France has threatened to ban Shein from accessing the country’s market if the Chinese retailer ever resumed selling “childlike” sex dolls.
The warning, which came just days before Shein was due to open a store in Paris, followed France’s anti-fraud unit reporting on Saturday that the company was selling dolls of a likely “child pornography nature”.
Protesters in Paris, with signs translating to: “Shame on Shein!”, “Shein is complicit in child pornography” and “BHV, your shop window shouldn’t hide this shame”. (Reuters: Abdul Saboor)
Shortly after the fraud watchdog’s statement, Shein announced that the dolls had been withdrawn from its platform and that it had launched an internal inquiry.
On Monday, France’s Finance Minister Roland Lescure warned he would move to ban the company from the French market if the items returned online.
A mannequin head advertised on Temu and the same doll advertised as a sex doll head on Shein. (ABC: Supplied)
“If such conduct is repeated, we would be within our legal right to stop Shein’s access to the French market,” Mr Lescure told BFM TV.
Temu and Shein sell headless child sex abuse dolls
“These horrible items are illegal,” he added, promising a judicial investigation.
Shein was due to open its first physical store in the world, on Wednesday, inside the prestigious BHV Marais department store in central Paris, a move that has sparked outrage in France.
The Singapore-based company, which was originally founded in China, has also faced criticism over working conditions at its factories and the environmental impact of its ultra-fast fashion business model.
A child-like sex doll head advertised as a mannequin on Shein’s website. (ABC: Supplied)
Some brands have pulled their products from BHV Marais since the announcement.
When previously contacted about the dolls, Shein told Reuters in an email: “The products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these major shortcomings.”
It added that “Shein has a zero-tolerance policy towards any content or products that violate our internal policies or applicable laws”.
Shein hauls, hype and now a hefty fine
France has already fined Shein three times in 2025 for a total of €191 million ($336 million).
Those sanctions were imposed for failing to comply with online cookie legislation, false advertising, misleading information and not declaring the presence of plastic microfibres in its products.
The European Commission is also investigating Shein over risks linked to illegal products, while EU lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at curbing the environmental impact of fast fashion.
AFP/ Reuters