Shein has imposed a total ban on sex dolls and suspended its entire “adult products” category after France’s Finance Minister, Roland Lescure, threatened to block the Chinese fast-fashion retailer from operating in the country. The warning came after authorities found childlike sex dolls being sold on the company’s marketplace.
The move follows an investigation by France’s consumer watchdog, DGCCRF, which said on Saturday it detected the dolls alongside other pornographic items and alerted judicial authorities.
Shein swiftly removed the listings on Sunday and said it had “imposed strict sanctions” on offending merchants while tightening marketplace rules.
The retailer added that it expanded its keyword blac*list to stop sellers from skirting restrictions. “While each seller is responsible for their own listings, Shein does not tolerate any violation of its internal rules and policies,” the company said in a statement following Lescure’s remarks.
The crackdown comes days before Shein opens its first-ever brick-and-mortar store at the BHV department store in central Paris. The timing underscores the company’s efforts to restore trust and safeguard its reputation as it expands its European presence.
