US Safety Regulators Investigate Shein and Temu for Product Safety Concerns

Urgent Investigation: CPSC Raises Concerns About Shein and Temu

US safety regulators are urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate the ultracheap e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu. In a statement released on Tuesday, two CPSC commissioners expressed worries, indicating that these platforms raise specific concerns, particularly with reports suggesting that deadly baby and toddler products are easily accessible on their sites.

Specific Risks Identified

• The statement cites an illuminating report from The Information.
• Products flagged include padded crib bumpers on Temu, banned in the US.
• Children's drawstring hoodies on Shein pose strangulation hazards.

Commissioners Peter Feldman and Douglas Dziak argue that the CPSC must.evaluate how Shein, headquartered in Singapore, and Temu, based in China, comply with the Consumer Product Safety Act. Their investigation would seek to determine the degree to which these platforms exist outside the CPSC's oversight while also scrutinizing the Chinese manufacturers behind many of the products sold.

Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Safety

“Third-party sellers, both domestic and foreign, are proliferating on online platforms,” the commissioners noted. “While this form of commerce benefits consumers and sellers, the CPSC must clarify its expectations regarding the responsibility of these platforms to ensure safety.” The Verge reached out to both companies for comments but received no immediate response.

As Shein and Temu gain traction due to their low prices, regulatory scrutiny is ramping up. Notably, Shein and Temu must comply with the stringent regulations imposed by the European Union on large digital platforms. Temu additionally faces a lawsuit from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin alleging its application accesses extensive user data without consent.