French customs authorities have found that 25% of non-textile products shipped by online fashion platform Shein do not comply with French and European regulations. The results follow a large inspection campaign carried out at Paris’s Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, one of the main entry points for e-commerce parcels entering France.

The checks were conducted in early November and covered more than 320,000 parcels arriving from outside the European Union. Customs officials focused on goods sold by Shein, which has become one of the most popular online retailers in France, particularly among younger consumers.

According to customs, the non-compliance rate applies specifically to non-textile items. These include electronics, cosmetics, toys and various everyday consumer products sold on the platform alongside clothing. Textile items, which make up the core of Shein’s business, were found to have far fewer compliance issues during the inspection.

Shein

Authorities reported several types of violations among the non-textile goods. Some products lacked required safety labels or user instructions, particularly cosmetics and electrical items. Others were missing technical documentation, while certain toys did not meet established European safety standards. Customs also identified counterfeit items among the inspected goods.

The 25% figure represents a revision of earlier estimates that suggested a much higher rate of non-compliance. Initial government statements, based on a smaller sample of parcels, had indicated that up to 80% of inspected goods were problematic. The expanded inspection significantly lowered that estimate, providing a more detailed picture of the situation.

Customs officials noted that Shein temporarily closed its French marketplace for third-party sellers just before the inspection began. This move likely reduced the number of problematic items in circulation, particularly in categories outside Shein’s own clothing lines. The platform operates both as a direct seller and as a marketplace hosting external vendors.

French customs said that textile products showed relatively strong compliance during the checks. Officials attributed this to tighter controls introduced by Shein ahead of the inspection, as well as greater familiarity with textile regulations compared with other product categories.

The inspection was part of a broader effort by French authorities to strengthen oversight of small parcels entering the country through cross-border e-commerce. The volume of such parcels has risen sharply in recent years, driven by platforms offering low-cost goods shipped directly from overseas manufacturers.

Customs data show that the number of small parcels entering France increased from around 170 million in 2022 to an estimated 773 million in 2024. Around 97% of these parcels originate from China, highlighting the scale of cross-border online shopping and the challenges it poses for regulators.

The findings have intensified political debate in France over how to regulate fast-fashion platforms and low-value imports. Lawmakers have raised concerns about consumer safety, unfair competition with domestic retailers and the environmental impact of mass e-commerce shipments.

The inspection also follows earlier controversy surrounding Shein in France, including government efforts to restrict access to the platform after public outrage over certain products. A Paris court later ruled that blocking the site would be disproportionate, but scrutiny of the company has continued.

Shein has said it is working to strengthen compliance across its marketplace, including stricter checks on third-party sellers and internal audits of product listings. The company plans to gradually reopen its marketplace to European sellers that meet regulatory requirements.

French authorities say the latest results underline the need for stronger controls on non-textile goods sold through international platforms. They argue that while progress has been made, a significant share of products entering the country still fails to meet basic safety and regulatory standards.

As discussions continue at both national and European levels, France’s inspection is likely to influence future policy decisions on e-commerce imports, particularly around tighter checks on small parcels and greater accountability for online platforms.