reuters.com
www.reuters.com

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/5473034

France started proceedings on Wednesday to suspend online fast-fashion retailer Shein days after weapons and childlike sex dolls were found being sold on its site, marring the opening of the Chinese company’s first shop in a Paris department store.

The discovery of the dolls on Shein’s website by France’s consumer authority on Saturday fuelled an outcry. Shein said it had sanctioned the sellers and implemented a full ban on sex dolls.

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“On the Prime Minister’s instructions, the government is initiating proceedings to suspend Shein for as long as necessary for the platform to demonstrate to the authorities that all of its content is finally in compliance with our laws and regulations,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

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Lawmaker Antoine Vermorel-Marques had earlier on Wednesday pointed out listings on Shein’s site for weapons including brass knuckles, which are banned in France, and an axe.

“Enough is enough with the pedopornographic dolls, and now the weapons,” Commerce and Small Business Minister Serge Papin said in parliament on Wednesday, before ordering the suspension of the platform.

France has experience in cracking down on online platforms - it suspended U.S. ecommerce marketplace Wish in 2021 after its consumer watchdog found dangerous products for sale on the site, only allowing it again a year and a half later.

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France has been especially robust in its reaction to Shein, and could ban it from advertising in the country under a planned law to rein in “ultra-fast” fashion that specifically targets platforms adding more than 1,000 new products a day.

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  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    31·
    1 day ago

    Lawmaker Antoine Vermorel-Marques had earlier on Wednesday pointed out listings on Shein’s site for weapons including brass knuckles, which are banned in France, and an axe.

    I would not be incredibly surprised if someone in Europe could get brass knuckles from here in the US, where they’re no big deal.

    kagis

    https://www.brassknucklescompany.com/

    Let’s see. Brass knuckles. Vintage design replica brass knuckles. Stealth knuckles to bypass metal detectors. WW1 combination brass knuckles/trench knives. Oversized brass knuckles weighing over a pound. Electrified brass knuckles stun gun.

    OUTSIDE THE USA:

    Most non-US orders arrive without a problem but we recommend that you check your local laws regarding the products you intend to order. All of our shipments go out in plain boxes or envelopes with no mention of our company name. Most orders arrive without a problem.

    Discreet Packaging

    We ship in plain white envelopes or USPS Priority Mail packaging.

    • Enoril@jlai.luEnglish
      1·
      16 hours ago

      That just means they don’t respect the local laws and hope the customs don’t catch them. The customer is the one who can have trouble.

      But here we speak about a brand, with physical retail opening in Paris and other towns, displaying an illegal online catalog to its customers. It’s even worse as it break a lot more the local laws.