A test conducted by the German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) found that some clothes from online fast fashion company Shein contained harmful chemicals that were thousands of times higher than the European Union (EU) limit.
The scientific test was conducted by the Bremen Environmental Institute under the supervision of the German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). The test tested 18 clothes from Shein. Of these, seven products were found to violate the European Union’s chemical safety standards.
The test detected a variety of chemicals, including PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), a phthalate called DEHP, heavy metals and various types of plasticizers.
According to the test results, the level of PFAS in a child’s jacket was more than 1,100 times the permitted limit, and another jacket made for teenagers was more than 12,000 times the permitted limit.
The maximum permitted limit in the European Union is 1,000 mg/kg. Where the amount of DEHP in a women’s boot was 179,000 mg/kg, which is 179 times the permitted limit.
PFAS is called a ‘forever chemical’ in scientific terms because it does not easily break down in the human body or the environment. According to the German Environment Agency, some PFAS chemicals can affect hormonal balance, including weakening the immune system. They can also cause problems with metabolism.
On the other hand, DEHP can disrupt hormone function and negatively affect reproductive health. After the test results were published, DUH sent a cease-and-desist notice against Shein. Through which it announced the immediate withdrawal of all these harmful products from the global market.
In the meantime, the European Commission is investigating Shein under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to see whether the company has taken appropriate measures to prevent the sale of illegal or unsafe products and whether it complies with European consumer protection law.
Experts from the European Consumer Protection Agency and Germany’s Stiftung Warentest have recommended following some important institutional guidelines when shopping on such international cross-border e-commerce platforms, such as checking the manufacturer and importer’s information before purchasing products, checking whether there are necessary safety marks (such as the CE mark), and being wary of buying products at abnormally low prices.
