Temu fined more than $230 million by EU over illegal product sales | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Temu fined more than $230 million by EU over illegal product salesNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechTemu fined more than $230 million by EU over illegal product salesThe Commission found that consumers are ‘very likely to encounter illegal items on Temu.’The Commission found that consumers are ‘very likely to encounter illegal items on Temu.’by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedMay 28, 2026, 11:47 AM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Temu has been fined €200 million (about $232 million) by the European Commission after it found that consumers are “very likely to encounter illegal items” on the popular Chinese e-commerce platform. According to the commission, Temu breached Digital Service Act (DSA) rules by failing to identify and assess the systemic risks of illegal products being offered on its platform and the resulting harmful impact on its customers.The EU launched its formal DSA investigation against Temu in October 2024, and issued a preliminary ruling in July 2025 that found Temu isn’t doing enough to keep illegal products off its ultra-cheap marketplace. As part of that investigation, the Commission said that a “very high percentage” of electronic device chargers purchased by mystery shoppers failed basic safety tests, and found that a high percentage of tested baby toys posed safety risks, reporting that they exceeded the legal limits for certain chemicals or posed suffocation hazards.Temu now has until August 26th to submit an action plan to the Commission to remedy the DSA breach. If Temu fails to comply, it may face additional periodic penalty payments. Shein, a similar Chinese retailer that rivals Temu, is facing a similar DSA investigation over illegal products after French regulators found listings for “child-like sex dolls” on the platform last year.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedLawCloseLawPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All LawNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsOnline ShoppingCloseOnline ShoppingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Online ShoppingPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsRegulationCloseRegulationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All RegulationTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularValve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200Sony’s first RGB TV is a statement pieceSony is offering up to 50 percent off some of our favorite PS5 gamesHere’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appWin cool gadgets we can’t keep because The Verge has ethicsThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Temu was sanctioned by the European Commission with a fine of €200 million, approximately $232 million, following an investigation into the platform's sales of illegal products. The Commission determined that consumers are very likely to encounter illegal items on the popular Chinese e-commerce marketplace. This breach is related to violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA), as the platform failed to adequately identify and assess the systemic risks associated with illegal products offered on its site and the subsequent harmful impact on its customers.

The investigation stems from the EU's formal DSA inquiry launched in October 2024, which resulted in a preliminary ruling in July 2025 indicating that Temu was insufficient in its efforts to remove illegal products from its ultra-cheap marketplace. During this process, the Commission found significant safety issues, noting that mystery shoppers discovered a very high percentage of electronic device chargers failed basic safety tests. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a high proportion of tested baby toys presented safety hazards, exceeding legal limits for certain chemicals or posing risks of suffocation.

To rectify the identified DSA breaches, Temu has been mandated to submit an action plan to the Commission by August 26th. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in additional periodic penalty payments. This regulatory action places Temu in a context where similar scrutiny is occurring across the e-commerce sector; for instance, Shein, a competing Chinese retailer, is also undergoing a DSA investigation concerning illegal listings, such as those identified by French regulators involving child-like sex dolls. Jess Weatherbed reported on these developments, highlighting the regulatory focus on platform responsibility regarding product safety and legality.