The European Commission has fined Temu €200 million According to the EU, the platform was selling illegal and dangerous products to European consumers

It was October 2024 when we first reported that the European Commission had opened an official investigation into Temu, the Chinese fast-commerce platform, over the sale of toxic and illegal products. Today, more than a year and a half later, Brussels has reached its conclusion: Temu will have to pay a €200 million fine for failing to prevent the spread of illegal and dangerous products on its platform. As reported by the Guardian, the penalty is one of the largest ever imposed under the Digital Services Act, the European regulation introduced in 2024 to regulate major online platforms.

Why the European Commission fined Temu

According to the findings of the European Commission’s 19-month investigation, European users had an extremely high chance of encountering non-compliant products on the platform. Among the products under scrutiny were mainly children’s toys, electronic chargers, jewelry, and clothing items containing banned substances or potentially dangerous materials.

A “mystery shopping” operation commissioned directly by Brussels reportedly uncovered a particularly high number of chargers considered dangerous due to risks of fires, electric shocks, or burns, alongside toys that could pose choking hazards for children. Over the past few months, several European consumer associations had already raised concerns about products sold on the platform containing lead, toxic metals, and chemical components banned within the European Union.

What will happen next to Temu in Europe?

But for Brussels, the issue goes beyond individual products: the Commission also criticized the platform’s overall functioning, accusing Temu of failing to implement sufficient controls over its recommendation systems and influencer-driven promotions, tools which European regulators believe contributed to amplifying the spread of illegal items. As highlighted by the Guardian, the EU believes Temu had underestimated the real risks present on the marketplace as early as its first risk assessment report submitted in 2024.

Temu, which now counts around 130 million European users (roughly one-third of the EU population), said it is considering an appeal against the decision, calling the fine disproportionate. Meanwhile, Brussels continues tightening its grip on Chinese fast commerce, especially at a time when Europe is trying to redefine the relationship between online platforms, consumer safety, and ultra low-cost commerce. The platform will have until August 28 to submit a detailed action plan to the European Commission explaining how it intends to comply with European regulators’ demands and limit the spread of illegal products on its marketplace.