EU Fines Temu €200M for Failing to Address Illegal Products

The European Commission imposed a €200 million fine, equivalent to approximately $232 million, on Temu after determining that shoppers on the Chinese e-commerce site are reportedly very likely to encounter illegal items. Officials concluded the company violated Digital Services Act obligations because it did not identify or evaluate the broader dangers posed by prohibited goods sold there and the resulting harm to users.


Investigation timeline and findings

EU authorities opened a formal DSA probe into Temu in October 2024. A preliminary decision issued in July 2025 stated the platform had not taken sufficient measures to prevent illegal merchandise from appearing on its low-cost marketplace.

During the review, Commission testers discovered that a very high percentage of electronic device chargers bought through mystery shopping failed standard safety checks. In addition, a high percentage of examined children's toys presented safety concerns because they exceeded permitted chemical thresholds or created choking dangers.

Temu must deliver a corrective action plan to regulators by August 26th. Continued noncompliance could trigger further periodic fines. A parallel DSA examination is targeting Shein, another Chinese fast-fashion seller, after French officials reported finding “child-like sex dolls” listed on that site last year.

The Commission has also opened separate proceedings against several other large online platforms under the same regulation.