Shein Faces Potential Three-Month suspension as French Lawmakers demand Appearance
PARIS – Fast-fashion giant Sheinโ isโ facing increasing pressure fromโ French authorities, including a potential three-month suspension ofโค its website, as it โrepeatedly postpones โฃa summons โto appear before โฃthe Nationalโ Assembly.The โcompany has twice requested a “calendar adjustment” toโฃ scheduled appearances on November 26 and december 2, citing ongoing โฃlegal proceedings initiated by โฃthe government.
The situation highlights growingโ concerns over Shein’s business practicesโค and transparency. The Sustainable โคGrowth โCommission initially โsummoned Shein,โข and โdespite the company’s statedโค “desire to participate in the work”โค of the commission, it insists any contributionโฃ must align with the outcome of current judicial reviews. This standoff occurs as โthe โคFrench stateโข seeks a courtโ order โขto temporarily halt Shein’s operations in France, aโค move that could significantly disrupt the shopping habitsโ of French consumers and set aโฃ precedent for regulating ultra-fast fashion.
According to Sandrine Le Feur,deputies respect โฃongoing investigations andโ the separation of powers,emphasizing that legal โproceedings are “absolutely notโค an excuse not to come and present themselves toโข the committee.” โ
On Friday, the State will request theโ Paris judicial courtโค to suspend theโ Shein site for three months, with any reopening contingent on conditions and oversight byโ Arcom, France’s โdigital regulator. However, the Paris prosecutor’sโ office has โindicated that a three-month blocking request may be considered disproportionate, referencing case law from the European Court of โHuman Rights. Shein released a statement acknowledging the referralโฃ andโข “reaffirming itsโฃ desire to โparticipate,” while โคmaintaining its position that contributions must be โ”in compliance with ongoing legal procedures.”
