France fines Shein $26 million

(Reuters) – France has ​fined fast-fashion firm Shein about €22 million ($26 million) over issues ‌with returns, product information and order confirmations, a penalty the company described as disproportionate and vowed to challenge.

The Directorate General for Competition, ​Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control said on Wednesday it ​had fined Shein €16.7 million for the order confirmation issues ⁠and €5.8 million for issues with returns and environmental quality ​information.

“Technical issues, with no impact on consumers and already addressed ​where necessary, have been used as the basis for an exceptional penalty,” a Shein spokesperson said in a statement. “We therefore intend to strongly contest ​both sanctions in their entirety.”

France fined Shein €40 million for misleading ​discounts in July. Authorities also sought to suspend its marketplace, but Paris’ ‌Court ⁠of Appeals rejected that move in March.

Shein, which has won over millions of cash-strapped shoppers around the world with rock-bottom prices on clothes, gadgets and accessories, has faced heightened scrutiny in ​France since November, ​when the ⁠consumer watchdog found sex dolls resembling children and banned weapons for sale on its site.

Since the ​discovery, “we have decided not to leave these ​platforms alone, ⁠and we will continue to take action until they completely change their practices – or leave our market,” Serge Papin, minister ⁠for small ​and medium-sized businesses, said in a ​post on X.

($1 = 0.8615 euros)

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