Describing the flood of unsafe products into the EU as a “tsunami”, Green MEP Saskia Bricmont said further action was needed to protect consumers and prevent counterfeiting. She added that it was important for the EU to propose “alternative and affordable consumption models” based on the use of local and second-hand products and a circular economy.
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“Non-EU platforms have avoided paying any environmental fees and have undermined efforts to move towards a circular economy,” [Maria Guzenina (S&D)] said.
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MEP Leila Chaibi (The Left) also wants the Commission to strengthen rules on digital fairness.
According to her, Amazon, Temu and Shein should be “banned from the EU” as long as they fail to comply with EU laws on conformity standards, as well as social and environmental norms.
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The Commission unveiled its e-commerce strategy in February, which focuses on better cooperation between the EU and national authorities. On the same day, it announced new actions against Shein under its consumer protection rules and emphasised that e-commerce companies such as Amazon, Temu and Shein face ongoing investigations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
However, the Commission said it would wait a year before evaluating its e-commerce strategy.
Triple was hyperbole, for sure, but for these convenience items like thermal paste, charging cables, headphones, extension cords, and such, where people go to local stores because they want it immediately, the upcharge is abhorrent, at least in Germany. For other products it’s not as bad.