Fast fashion retailer claims latest penalties are “manifestly disproportionate”…

Shein has said it will challenge fines totalling almost €22m imposed by French regulators over alleged breaches of consumer protection and product information rules.

The fast fashion retailer was sanctioned by France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) following an investigation into ecommerce platforms operating in the country.

The watchdog fined Shein €16.7M over order confirmation issues and a further €5.8M over alleged failures linked to returns and environmental quality information.

The latter penalty was directed at Infinite Style Ecommerce Co Ltd, the entity responsible for handling Shein sales. According to the DGCCRF, the company failed to meet obligations surrounding consumers’ rights to cancel and return certain purchases within a 14-day period at no cost.

Regulators also alleged that required product traceability details were not consistently provided. These disclosures include information on where garments are woven, dyed
and manufactured. The watchdog further claimed that Shein did not adequately communicate the presence of microplastics in some textile products.

Responding to the decision, Shein described the penalties as “manifestly disproportionate” and confirmed its intention to contest both fines.

The latest fines come less than a year after France imposed a €40M penalty on Shein for alleged misleading discount practices.