Joint Scandinavian Effort for Safe Online Shopping

Sweden, Norway and Denmark will cooperate to bring a halt to products that are harmful to health and the environment from operators such as Temu, Shein and Wish.

“Within the EU, Sweden has been pushing for small packages, often supplied by operators like Temu and Shein, to be excluded from customs exemptions. We have also worked to ensure the impending producer responsibility framework for textiles will clarify the e-platforms’ responsibilities. The EU should take strong measures to halt the trade in these unsustainable and dangerous products, and the Nordic countries are now cooperating to protect our consumers from hazardous products produced in China. My view is that the Commission should focus even more clearly on this issue in the coming proposal for a ‘Circular Economy Act’,” says Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari.

On Thursday, Ms Pourmokhtari met her Norwegian and Danish ministerial colleagues in Brussels to discuss the situation and ensure a more coordinated effort. All three countries have problems with products from abroad failing to satisfy European rules and standards. The ministers are in agreement that each country must do what it can domestically, but that individual countries are unable to reverse the trend alone – the major solutions require measures at a European level.

Explosive growth

eCommerce has grown enormously over the past few years. Last year, around SEK 4.6 billion of products with a value below EUR 150, or SEK 1 700, were imported into the EU market. The EU and Sweden are facing growing challenges due to eCommerce from platforms located outside the EU. Many of these products come from global eCommerce platforms, with a number of them being shown to contain substances constituting a risk to health and the environment. The situation also harms the competitiveness of companies in the EU that adhere to the regulatory framework.

“Global online stores are flooding us with products that could be harmful to people’s health and bad for the environment. Our neighbours are facing the same challenges, and I’m pleased that we are now strengthening our cooperation in this important area. Norway and Europe have the world’s strongest regulatory framework for protecting consumers from products containing substances hazardous to health and the environment. However, it remains a major challenge to hold global eCommerce platforms such as Temu, Shein and Wish responsible,” notes Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

In 2023, the Norwegian Environment Agency discovered illegal substances in 30 per cent of the products purchased from online stores. New inspections of toys and children’s products supplied by Temu revealed illegal substances in nine out of 13 products analysed.

EU signals measures

The EU Commission has recently presented several initiatives to create a safer, fairer and more sustainable eCommerce market.

“Online marketplaces such as Temu, Shein and Wish are like the Wild West for consumers. There are far too many examples of products being sold that do not satisfy EU legislation. In the worst cases, the products are dangerous for consumers. A joint Nordic inspection project revealed that 71 per cent of all inspected products failed to satisfy the EU’s legal requirements. In Denmark, we have established a working group to improve collaboration between authorities and organisations concerning the challenges posed by online marketplaces. However, we need clearer rules and better consumer protection. This is why we are now cooperating with our Nordic neighbours to secure a result in which online marketplaces are held responsible for ensuring that the products they sell satisfy EU legislation,” says Denmark’s Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor