U.S. Regulators Push for Investigation into Shein and Temu over ‘Deadly’ Baby Products

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Shein and Temu, two major Chinese e-commerce platforms, are under scrutiny as U.S. regulators call for an investigation into their sale of potentially dangerous baby and toddler products. In an open letter released on September 4, 2024, two commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak, expressed concerns over the companies’ compliance with U.S. safety standards.

The commissioners cited recent media reports indicating that unsafe products for children are readily available on the platforms. They called for a thorough examination of the safety practices, third-party seller relationships, and product import representations used by Shein and Temu. The investigation is set to focus on products that fall under the “de minimis” rule, which exempts shipments valued at less than $800 from tariffs, enabling the platforms to offer low-cost goods.

Shein responded by stating that customer safety is its “top priority” and emphasized its investment in strengthening compliance programs. Temu similarly noted that all sellers on its platform are required to follow safety regulations.

This proposed investigation follows ongoing concerns about the companies’ business practices, including their low pricing strategies, environmental impact, and past accusations of forced labor and intellectual property theft.