EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath has expressed alarm over the toxicity and safety risks posed by products sold on Chinese retail platforms Shein and Temu, which are shipping millions of low-value goods into the EU daily.

He emphasized the EU's focus on cracking down on illegal and unsafe products, highlighting ongoing efforts to enforce regulations and address violations by these platforms.

McGrath plans to raise these concerns directly with Chinese authorities during the upcoming EU-China summit scheduled for July 25, 2025.

This crackdown comes amid a surge in low-value imports, with EU statistics projecting these to double in 2024 compared to 2023, prompting discussions about removing the €150 duty-free threshold and introducing handling fees.

In response, the EU is considering measures such as abolishing the duty-free threshold and implementing handling fees to deter the influx of cheap, potentially unsafe goods.

Last year, the EU's Safety Gate system recorded a record 4,137 alerts related to unsafe consumer products, mainly cosmetics, underscoring the scale of the safety issue.

Customs officials face significant challenges controlling this influx, with critics noting that unsafe products undermine consumer safety and harm compliant businesses.

In an effort to improve safety standards, Shein has announced a $15 million investment in compliance initiatives, including product testing and removing non-compliant vendors.

McGrath plans to address these safety concerns directly with Chinese authorities at the EU-China summit, emphasizing the need for stricter controls.

Unsafe products, such as cosmetics containing banned chemicals like Lillal, which has been prohibited since 2022 due to fertility concerns, highlight the ongoing safety risks.

Investigations, including secret shopper operations, are underway to gather evidence that Chinese retailers are bypassing EU laws and regulations on product safety.

Brussels is also scrutinizing Shein for potential violations of consumer protection laws, including misleading discounts and false sustainability claims.

Notable unsafe products include baby soothers with choking hazards, children's raincoats with toxic chemicals, and children's clothing with dangerously long drawstrings, illustrating the severity of the safety issues.