The retailer has three weeks to reply to the European Commission request for information under the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission asked online fashion platform Shein to furnish more information under its digital rulebook on Thursday, the day after launching a consumer probe into the Asian clothes retail giant.
Under its Digital Services Act (DSA) the Commission has sought information on risks linked to illegal content and goods on its marketplace, the transparency of its recommender systems, access to data for qualified researchers and measures adopted to mitigate risks relating to consumer protection, public health and users’ wellbeing.
The request comes a day after the EU executive launched a consumer protection probe into the clothes retailer and also published a “toolbox” for handling challenges posed by online shopping from Chinese websites that fail to comply with EU standards in terms of quality, environment and fair commercial practices.
The toolbox claims to approach the problem from the moment the consumer visits the website to the moment of purchase, listing various regulations that already apply or which need to be enforced, improved or reviewed, but also includes new proposals – such as customs reform.
Shein, founded in China but now headquartered in Singapore, has until 27 February to reply to the DSA request. Based on the assessment of the replies, the Commission will determine the next steps.
A spokesperson for the company said in a statement to Euronews: “We share the Commission’s goal of ensuring that consumers in the EU can shop online with peace of mind, we have received the request for information, and we are working to promptly address it.”
The Commission sent a request for information to Shein last June on the measures it took to comply with the DSA obligations related to the so-called ‘Notice and Action mechanism’ to notify illegal products, ‘dark patterns’ on its online interfaces, the protection of minors, the transparency of recommender systems, the traceability of traders and compliance by design.
Other online platforms, including Meta, TikTok and X, also face DSA probes, after the rules entered into force late 2023.
