Amélie de Montchalin, determined to ensure “respect for the law”, refuses at this stage to communicate with the boss of the platform

The Minister of Public Accounts launched the largest customs operation ever carried out against Shein in France, checking 200,000 packages to verify their compliance with standards. insists Amélie de Montchalin on respecting French laws and protecting consumers in the face of competition deemed unfair.

“We are not going to let ourselves be overwhelmed”warns Amélie de Montchalin, mMinister in charge of Public Accounts, guest of 8:30 a.m. franceinfo, Friday November 7. “When we are in France, we respect French law, we play the rules of French competition”, she adds about the Shein platform, accused of having sold child pornography dolls and category A weapons. The minister draws a harsh observation on the practices of the Chinese online fashion giant, targeted by several procedures in France and Europe.
The operation to verify 200,000 Shein packages at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, orchestrated by the minister, constitutes the largest customs intervention ever carried out in France against an e-commerce platform. This action mobilizes the Fraud Repression Department (DGCCRF), customs and the air transport police in order to examine each package coming directly from Shein. “We already have 100,000 items that have been checked” out of a million items contained in the 200,000 packages, specifies the minister. “This is much-needed work to collect evidence of non-compliance.”
“Eight out of ten products are non-compliant” in safety, quality, standards and valorization, indicates the minister. Faced with what she describes as “submersion” trade, the minister rejects any accusation of protectionism.

“It’s not protectionism because we would lock ourselves in, but we are not going to let ourselves be overwhelmed.”

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister responsible for Public Accounts

at franceinfo

She just wishes “protect consumers, protect the economy” platforms that do not respect the law. “That there is trade, there is no problem. But trade which respects our rules, our standards, our principles and our values”, she adds.

Amélie de Montchalin thus intends to demonstrate that “we are not powerless and that algorithms will not take precedence over the law”. According to her, “the State is there, it enforces the rules”. The minister does not intend to follow up on the request from the CEO of Shein to be received by the government. “We are in a procedure which is at the same time suspension of the site, a legal procedure and a European procedure”, she specifies. “Today, we are in the process of characterizing the offenses. Exchanges will take place when they need to take place. We are not negotiating, we are enforcing the law. So I will not receive anyone in my office to negotiate,” she decides.
Amélie de Montchalin defends the government’s action “for our artisans, our traders, our small industries”, victims according to her of unfair competition. “Digital cannot be a Wild West”, she warns.