{"id":551743,"date":"2025-11-06T00:01:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T00:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/551743\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T00:01:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T00:01:26","slug":"france-moves-to-suspend-shein-over-listings-for-illegal-weapons-and-sex-dolls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/551743\/","title":{"rendered":"France moves to suspend Shein over listings for illegal weapons and sex dolls"},"content":{"rendered":"

PARIS (AP) \u2014 France\u2019s government said Wednesday it is moving toward suspending access to the Shein online marketplace until it proves its content conforms to French law, after authorities found illegal weapons and child-like sex dolls<\/a> for sale on the fast-fashion giant\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

The Finance Ministry said the government made the decision after officials found \u201clarge quantities\u201d of illegal \u201cClass A\u201d weapons on Shein\u2019s popular e-commerce platform Wednesday, following the discovery last week of illegal sex dolls with childlike characteristics. The ministry did not detail which weapons were found, but the Class A includes firearms, knives and machetes as well as war material. <\/p>\n

The ministry said if the prohibited items remain, authorities may suspend the site in France.<\/p>\n

The decision came on the same day that Shein opened its first permanent store<\/a> in Paris inside one of the city\u2019s most iconic department stores. The opening drew crowds of shoppers to the BHV Marais, but also a small group of protesters who briefly disrupted the opening by waving anti-Shein signs before they were escorted out by security.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The director of the Bazar de l\u2019Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store Karl-Stephane Cottendin cuts the ribbon at the opening Shein\u2019s first physical store in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. ( Dimitar Dilkoff, Pool via AP)<\/p>\n

The director of the Bazar de l\u2019Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store Karl-Stephane Cottendin cuts the ribbon at the opening Shein\u2019s first physical store in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. ( Dimitar Dilkoff, Pool via AP)<\/p>\n

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The ministry did not say whether its decision would impact the physical store. It added that a first progress report would be provided within 48 hours.<\/p>\n

Shein, founded in China in 2012 and now based in Singapore, pledged to work with French authorities to \u201caddress any concerns swiftly as we have always done and we are seeking dialogue with the authorities and government bodies on this issue.\u201d <\/p>\n

French authorities can order online platforms to remove clearly illegal content, such as child sexual abuse materials, within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, authorities can require internet service providers and search engines to block access and delist the site.<\/p>\n

Ordering from Shein\u2019s French website was still possible Wednesday following the government\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People visit the BHV department store as fast fashion powerhouse Shein opens its first permanent store, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

People visit the BHV department store as fast fashion powerhouse Shein opens its first permanent store, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

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Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Merlin, president of Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des Grands Magasins (SGM,) which owns the BHV department store, praised the government\u2019s move. \u201cI am satisfied with this decision and I hope that, in the end, we will be able to stop selling illicit products on these marketplaces,\u201d Merlin said.<\/p>\n

Still, the backlash over the sex doll listings could be a \u201cmassive red flag\u201d to investors and become a roadblock to the company\u2019s ambitions of going public, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData.<\/p>\n

The episode feeds into the view that Chinese-founded marketplaces \u201care the Wild West of e-commerce, where there is very little compliance, and they don\u2019t really adhere to established rules, that they don\u2019t have full control over the platforms,\u201d Saunders said. \u201cAnd that is a problem because if you\u2019re looking to expand, you have to abide by national laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saunders noted there\u2019s a big difference in having counterfeit merchandise and questionable merchandise on a site. Child sexual abuse material \u201ccrosses an important moral boundary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Store opening draws shoppers and demonstrators<\/p>\n

SGM has called the sale of the sex dolls unacceptable, but praised Shein for its swift response to defuse the controversy.<\/p>\n

Shein said earlier that it has banned all sex-doll products, and temporarily removed its adult products category for review. The company had also announced that it would temporarily suspend listings from independent third-party vendors in its marketplace, and launched an investigation to determine how the dolls listings bypassed its screening measures.<\/p>\n

Even before the backlash over the sex doll listings, the decision by Shein to launch its first physical store in the heart of France\u2019s fashion capital had faced criticism from environmental groups, Paris City Hall and France\u2019s ready-to-wear industry. <\/p>\n

The retail giant has long drawn criticism over its poor green credentials and labor practices<\/a>. An online petition opposing the Paris opening surpassed 120,000 signatures<\/p>\n

Ticia Ones, a regular Shein online customer living in Paris, said the main reason she visited the store on Wednesday was the opportunity to see items in person before buying.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can see what we order, touch the items, it\u2019s a good thing,\u201d she said, adding that the brand\u2019s low prices were a strong draw despite the controversy. \u201cI\u2019m not going to comment on the quality, but price is definitely appealing.\u201d <\/p>\n

The BHV store has been going through financial struggles in recent years and its owners believe the arrival of Shein will help revive business \u2014 even as some brands have chosen to leave the store in protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud to have a partner who has spoken out firmly,\u201d said Karl-St\u00e9phane Cottendin, the chief operating officer of SGM. \u201cWe are very happy to be opening the boutique.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A protester holds a placard reading \u201cNo style worth slavery\u201d in the BHV department store as fast fashion Shein opens its first physical store, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

A protester holds a placard reading \u201cNo style worth slavery\u201d in the BHV department store as fast fashion Shein opens its first physical store, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

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Environmental and ethical concerns<\/p>\n

Shein has risen rapidly to become a global fast-fashion giant. Selling mostly Chinese-made clothes and products at bargain prices, the retailer has drawn criticism over allegations that its supply chains may be tainted by forced labor, including from China\u2019s far-west Xinjiang province, where rights groups say serious human rights abuses<\/a> were committed by Beijing against members of the ethnic Uyghur group and other Muslim minorities.<\/p>\n

Cottendin dismissed those concerns and praised Shein for doing a \u201ctremendous job\u201d to improve its practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, it\u2019s a brand that produces under much more legitimate conditions,\u201d he said. \u201cWe ensured that the entire production chain, from manufacturing to delivery, complies strictly with French and European regulations and standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Frederic<\/p>\n

Frederic Merlin, CEO of SGM group which owns the BHV department store, answers reporters before fast fashion powerhouse Shein opens its first permanent store Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

Frederic Merlin, CEO of SGM group which owns the BHV department store, answers reporters before fast fashion powerhouse Shein opens its first permanent store Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo\/Thibault Camus)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

Fast fashion, characterized by a constant turnover of collections and very low prices, has flooded European markets with low-quality items, driving environmental, social, and economic costs<\/a>. The United Nations has warned that the textile industry alone is responsible for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> and contributes to water depletion.<\/p>\n

France is now moving to curb the growing influence of companies based in Asian countries such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress. A draft law targets fast fashion with measures such as consumer awareness campaigns, advertising bans, taxes on small imported parcels and stricter waste management rules. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a black day for our industry,\u201d said Thibaut Ledunois, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at the French federation of women\u2019s ready-to-wear. He added that Shein\u2019s Paris opening was an attempt to justify \u201call the bad, and sad and horrible business that they develop all around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PARIS (AP) \u2014 France\u2019s government said Wednesday it is moving toward suspending access to the Shein online marketplace…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":551744,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[176691,51,94475,176690,2000,299,2584,36,16831,176692,4179,176694,176693,1411,13216,66860,263],"class_list":{"0":"post-551743","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-apparel-and-accessories-manufacturing","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-consumer-products-and-services","11":"tag-corporate-law-and-regulation","12":"tag-eu","13":"tag-europe","14":"tag-fashion","15":"tag-france","16":"tag-france-government","17":"tag-frdric-merlin","18":"tag-general-news","19":"tag-karl-stphane-cottendin","20":"tag-neil-saunders","21":"tag-paris","22":"tag-protests-and-demonstrations","23":"tag-retail-and-wholesale","24":"tag-world-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115499820530425483","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=551743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/551744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=551743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=551743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=551743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}