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The French government has said it will suspend Shein’s right to operate in the country after prosecutors opened investigations into childlike sex dolls being sold on the fast-fashion retailer’s marketplace.
The government said in a statement on Wednesday that it was “initiating the suspension of Shein for the time necessary for the platform to demonstrate to the authorities that all of its content is finally compliant with our laws and regulations”.
It added that ministers will provide a first progress report within the next 48 hours.
French authorities on Monday opened an investigation into Shein and three other online marketplaces — Temu, Wish and AliExpress — after finding listings for sex dolls resembling children on each site. The dolls were being sold by third-party sellers rather than the retailers themselves.
After the government’s announcement on Wednesday, Shein said it had temporarily suspended all marketplace sales in France while it conducted a comprehensive review “to ensure full adherence to French law and the highest standards of consumer protection”.
“We are committed to working with the French authorities to address any concerns swiftly as we have always done,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that it had already decided independently of the government’s announcement to temporarily suspend third-party listings.
The scandal over the sex dolls has overshadowed Wednesday’s opening of Shein’s first permanent shop in Paris, located in the BHV department store. The opening day attracted protesters bearing signs that read “Protect children. Not Shein” and “Shame on Shein”.
Before the scandal erupted, Shein was planning to open concessions in several Galeries Lafayette stores outside Paris. It is unclear whether those plans will change.
The furore around the sex dolls adds to a lengthy list of controversies involving Shein. The fast-fashion retailer, which sells a constantly changing range of clothes, has been accused of copying the work of independent designers and major brands.
Environmental campaigners have criticised the toll that Shein’s business model takes on the environment, and the company itself confirmed last year that it found examples of child labour in its supply chain.
Meanwhile, Shein’s attempts to list on the public markets have run into difficulties in New York and London. The company filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering in July, the Financial Times previously reported.
