French Authorities Launch Full Inspection of Shein Shipments Amid Legal Crackdown
French customs begin comprehensive inspections of all Shein packages arriving at Paris airport amid legal actions over non-compliant and illegal items.
- • French government inspects 100% of 200,000 Shein packages arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport on November 6, 2025.
- • Customs and DGCCRF uncover numerous non-compliant and illegal products including unmarked toys and unauthorized cosmetics.
- • Legal procedures include administrative suspension, dereferencing, and possible site blocking under French Consumer Code.
- • Shein has 48 hours to comply with regulatory norms; platform has temporarily suspended its marketplace to address issues.
Key details
The French government has initiated an unprecedented customs operation at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to inspect 100% of the approximately 200,000 Shein packages arriving in France on November 6, 2025, aiming to ensure compliance with French product regulations. This measure follows a suspension procedure launched against the Chinese online retailer after public outrage over the sale of illegal and non-compliant items, including pedopornographic dolls and Category A weapons, triggering multiple administrative and judicial actions (ID 132245, 132297, 132323).
Customs officials at Roissy-CDG are meticulously opening and examining parcels to verify conformity with safety standards, such as the CE marking and proper usage instructions. Items seized during the inspections include spinning tops lacking age usage indication, unregulated teeth whitening products, and '4D laser lights' without the mandatory certifications, all destined for destruction (ID 132297).
The operation involves coordination between the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), customs authorities, and the air transport gendarmerie. Roissy-CDG, the second-largest European airport handling two million tons of freight annually, has experienced a surge in e-commerce shipments since 2022, with 95% of Chinese package flows passing through before nationwide distribution (ID 132245).
Legal proceedings against Shein include suspension, dereferencing, and potential site blocking, as permitted by the Consumer Code under Article L521-3. Shein has been given 48 hours to comply with French and EU norms. Despite the temporary suspension of its marketplace to review compliance, the platform faces challenges enforcing regulations due to many sellers being based in Asia and the risk of users circumventing restrictions via VPNs (ID 132323).
This operation represents a significant escalation in regulatory scrutiny of e-commerce platforms in France, highlighting governmental efforts to protect consumers from dangerous, illegal, or counterfeit goods entering the French market.