Shein Faces Texas AG Probe Into Supplies, Labor, Information Privateness

Texas has launched a probe into Shein, accusing it of promoting unsafe, poisonous merchandise to US shoppers.

Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton stated in a Monday information launch that his workplace was investigating the fast-fashion large for potential violations of Texas regulation, “associated to unethical labor practices and the sale of unsafe client merchandise.”

Paxton referenced Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Wholesome Once more” marketing campaign within the launch, saying that secure and non-toxic merchandise have been a key ingredient within the motion.

“Any firm that cuts corners on labor requirements or product security, particularly these working in overseas nations like China, will likely be held accountable,” Paxton stated within the launch.

Shein is headquartered in Singapore and sources a lot of its merchandise from China.

“Texans should know that the businesses they purchase from are moral, secure, clear, and never exploiting staff or promoting dangerous merchandise. I can’t permit low cost, harmful, overseas items to flood America and jeopardize our well being,” Paxton stated.

The discharge stated that the investigation may also look at Shein’s information assortment and privateness practices.

Representatives for Shein didn’t reply to a request for remark in regards to the Texas investigation from Enterprise Insider.

That is the newest setback that Shein is going through within the US, its largest market.

Because the begin of President Donald Trump’s second time period, his administration has cracked down on the de minimis commerce loophole, which beforehand allowed low-cost parcels to enter the nation tax-free. Shein stated in April that it might elevate costs to account for larger working bills, a results of modifications in commerce legal guidelines.

Paxton, who’s working for Senate in 2026, isn’t the primary authorities official globally to launch a probe into Shein.

South Korean well being officers raised issues a number of instances final 12 months about Shein’s merchandise containing poisonous substances above authorized limits. In response to the probes, Shein instructed Singaporean outlet The Straits Instances in June 2024 that it had eliminated the offending merchandise from its catalogue.

In Might, the European Fee stated it had investigated Shein’s practices and located that the corporate had breached EU regulation by providing pretend reductions, utilizing misleading product labels, and making deceptive sustainability claims.

Shein additionally got here underneath fireplace in France in early November for promoting childlike intercourse dolls and unlawful weapons on its third-party market within the nation, per a Reuters report. France suspended {the marketplace} shortly after.

The European Fee stated on Wednesday that it had despatched a request to Shein to supply proof that it might not expose minors to inappropriate content material and that it might stop the circulation of unlawful merchandise.

A Shein spokesperson instructed Politico that the corporate had obtained the request and was “working to promptly tackle it.”