The European Parliament has approved a resolution calling for decisive action against online marketplaces such as Shein, Temu, AliExpress and Wish, warning that the continued sale of illegal and unsafe products to EU consumers poses a serious threat to public safety, especially for minors.
The vote comes after a scandal in France involving the sale of child-like sexualised items and weapons via online platforms, a case that exposed systemic failures in oversight and major gaps in preventive mechanisms.
Parliament pushes for firm enforcement of EU rules
In its resolution, adopted by a show of hands, the Parliament says the recent incidents in France amount to a clear breach of EU law and underline the urgent need for strict and timely enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR).
MEPs argue that the European Commission and national authorities must move beyond voluntary dialogue with platforms and instead enforce the rules with “determination and without delay”.
Temporary suspensions for non-compliant platforms
The Parliament also expresses frustration over the slow pace of the Commission’s investigations into platforms based outside the EU, which can take months or even years to complete.
MEPs insist that companies showing repeated, severe or systemic violations of EU law should face temporary suspension of their commercial activities in the bloc, as happened with Shein in France. This, they say, should no longer be treated as a last-resort measure.
Concerns over cheap imports, unsafe goods and labour exploitation
Lawmakers warn about the huge volume of non-compliant small parcels arriving from platforms operating in third countries, arguing that business models centred on speed, ultra-low prices and excessive consumption are worsening the situation.
The resolution also points to concerns including:
• underpaid labour in supply chains
• counterfeit and illegal goods
• unsafe products that fail to meet EU standards
• textile waste generated by ultra-fast fashion
Call to strengthen customs and market-surveillance authorities
To address these gaps, the Parliament calls for significantly increased financial and operational support for customs authorities and market-surveillance bodies in the next EU long-term budget.
It also proposes the introduction of an EU-wide processing fee to help cover inspection costs, in line with WTO rules.
The text stresses the need for tougher sanctions, faster implementation of the revised EU Customs Code and new regulatory obligations for online marketplaces to close loopholes and ensure these platforms are held accountable for the non-compliant goods entering the European market.