By Our Correspondent

National News – The European Union has slammed Chinese-owned e-commerce giant Temu with a €200m fine over the sale of illegal and unsafe products on its online marketplace, intensifying pressure on global online retailers to improve consumer safety standards.

The European Commission announced the penalty after investigations revealed that dangerous baby toys and faulty chargers were being sold through the platform.

Authorities said Temu failed to properly identify and control risks linked to products that could endanger consumers across Europe.

According to the Commission, the investigation began in October 2024 under the EU Digital Services Act, which regulates major online platforms.

Officials carried out mystery shopping tests through an independent safety organisation and discovered that several chargers failed electrical safety checks, while some baby toys contained harmful chemicals and detachable parts that posed choking hazards.

EU Technology Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said the action sends a strong warning to digital marketplaces operating within Europe.

She stressed that online platforms must take responsibility for protecting consumers from unsafe and illegal products.

Temu, however, rejected the decision, describing the fine as excessive and unfair.

The company argued that the findings were linked to earlier systems used in 2024 and did not reflect recent improvements made to product monitoring and safety controls.

The retailer also confirmed it is considering legal and regulatory options.

As part of the ruling, Temu must submit a corrective action plan before August 28, explaining how it intends to strengthen product safety and comply with EU regulations.

European regulators will then review the company’s response within two months.

The case marks one of the biggest enforcement actions under the EU Digital Services Act and highlights growing global concerns over online shopping safety, counterfeit products, and weak seller oversight on major digital platforms.