The Swedish Consumer Agency has responded to calls from the Swedish Trade Federation to take action against Temu and Shein, Chinese shopping platforms accused of violating consumer protection laws in Sweden.
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While acknowledging the concerns raised, the Agency clarified that its primary role is to enforce consumer protection regulations rather than ensure market competition. Emy Gustavsson from the Swedish Consumer Agency highlighted that platforms targeting the Swedish market must comply with EU consumer protection laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA). She noted that the Agency coordinates with other EU consumer protection authorities under the EU Regulation on Consumer Protection Cooperation to address violations across multiple markets.
Regarding Temu and Shein specifically, the Swedish Consumer Agency has received numerous complaints, including 30 against Temu and around 50 against Shein. These platforms face allegations of misleading marketing practices, including inaccurate pricing comparisons, non-compliance with customer review standards, misleading environmental claims, and confusing discount coupon usage.
The Swedish Trade Federation's concerns reflect broader industry apprehensions about fair competition and consumer protection standards within the EU market.
Source: www.ehandel.se