France has threatened to block access to the Chinese online retailer Shein after it was found selling sex dolls resembling children. The company has since removed the products following pressure from French authorities.
"If the online retailer starts selling these products again, we would have the legal right to block Shein's access to the French market," French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told BFMTV.
The French consumer watchdog, DGCCRF, said on Saturday that it had discovered the dolls on Shein's website and had reported them to prosecutors. "Their description and categorisation on the site leave little doubt about the child abuse-related nature of the content," the regulator said, adding that there were no filters restricting access to pornographic material for minors.
Shein said the products were taken down "as soon as we became aware of them". A company spokesperson told Reuters that "Shein has a zero-tolerance policy for content or products that violate our internal guidelines or applicable laws".
The fast-fashion giant is already under fire in France for other reasons. On Wednesday, it is due to open its first permanent store in the country, inside the BHV department store in Paris, with five more planned in Dijon, Grenoble, Angers and Reims.
French clothing retailers have criticised the move, saying Shein’s ultra-low prices threaten their business models and distort fair competition.
