The penalties

France's Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) announced two fines against Shein on Wednesday. The first, at €16.73 million, targets Infinite Styles Services Limited (ISSL), the entity operating the online platform, for failing to include unit prices, delivery times, seller identities and contact details in order confirmations. The second, at €5.77 million, targets Infinite Style Ecommerce Co Ltd (ISEL), which handles sales for the brand, and concerns the 14-day withdrawal period, mandatory traceability information and the omission of microplastic disclosures in fabrics.

“The agency accuses Shein of failing to comply with a 14-day period required for consumers to be able to reconsider certain purchases and return them free of charge.”

Traceability and environmental gaps

The watchdog said Shein omitted mandatory traceability information, including the countries where its clothing is woven, dyed and manufactured. It also failed to disclose the presence of microplastics, primarily found in polyester, which are released into the water with every machine wash. Last year the DGCCRF had already sanctioned Shein €1.09 million specifically over the microplastics issue.

Shein's response

The Singapore-based company called the fines "manifestly disproportionate and discriminatory" and said it would contest both penalties in full. On the withdrawal-right complaint, Shein argued the DGCCRF was confusing the legal right of withdrawal with its own more advantageous commercial returns policy. On the missing environmental information, the company blamed a temporary technical incident. A spokesperson said the issues were "technical problems without impact on consumers" that had already been resolved, and that no consumer harm had been established.

“We are not even aware of a single customer complaint relating to these issues.”

Escalating scrutiny

The new fines bring the total penalties imposed on Shein in France to more than €210 million. In July the company was fined €40 million for misleading discount offers. Scrutiny intensified after November, when childlike sex dolls, prohibited weapons and banned medicines were discovered for sale on the platform. Shein said it immediately removed the products and banned sex dolls from its site globally. Trade Minister Serge Papin wrote on X that authorities would "continue to take measures until they fully change their practices — or leave our market."

“We will continue to take measures until they fully change their practices — or leave our market.”

Broader investigation

The fines stem from a wide-ranging 2025 investigation targeting several e-commerce platforms, primarily based outside Europe. Shein has faced criticism from campaign groups and politicians over alleged environmental pollution, unfair competition, goods that fail to comply with basic regulations and poor working conditions in its Chinese factories. A government request to block the platform in France was rejected by the courts in March.