Greenpeace: Shein Products Breach EU Limits on Hazardous Chemicals

Clothing sold by Asian e-commerce giant Shein contains hazardous chemicals far exceeding European safety limits, Greenpeace warned in a report released on Thursday.

A Shein spokesperson told AFP that, “as a precaution we will withdraw the articles that we can identify from our marketplace worldwide.”

According to Greenpeace Germany, laboratory tests on 56 Shein products found that 18 items contained dangerous chemicals above the limits set by the EU’s REACH regulation—in some cases by a wide margin. Among the flagged items was a children’s mermaid costume that exceeded legal thresholds for formaldehyde, a chemical associated with skin irritation and long-term health risks.

The group also identified adult jackets containing high levels of phthalates, chemicals commonly used to soften plastics but linked to hormonal and developmental problems.

Greenpeace said the substances pose severe risks not only to consumers but also to workers and the environment in countries where the garments are produced. Consumers, it warned, can be exposed through skin contact, perspiration, or inhalation of textile fibers. Once the clothing is washed or discarded, the chemicals can enter rivers, soil, and the food chain.

Shein responded that it “takes product safety very seriously” and aims to comply with all relevant standards. The company said it had not yet reviewed the findings because Greenpeace had not shared test data in advance, but added that it was investigating the claims.

The fast-fashion giant has been under increasing scrutiny over its business practices and product safety. Earlier this month, France suspended Shein’s online platform following public outrage over the sale of childlike sex dolls.

European retailers have long argued that they face unfair competition from platforms like Shein, AliExpress and Temu, which they say frequently skirt the EU’s strict product rules. In response, the European Commission plans to propose a draft law next year to address these concerns.

Separately, EU member states recently agreed to end the bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value imports, a move aimed at curbing the surge of cheap goods entering Europe through major e-commerce platforms.

Concerns over product safety continue to mount. In October, a German consumer group reported that most of the items it tested from Temu and Shein failed to comply with EU safety standards, with some deemed potentially “poisonous” or posing fire hazards. Shein said at the time that the products identified had been removed from sale.