EU steps up oversight of online fashion imports over toxic chemical concerns in clothing

The EU buys roughly 4.5 million tonnes of fast-fashion textiles each year. Over 5.8 million low-value e-commerce parcels enter the bloc every day, with brands like Shein, Temu and AliExpress attracting more than 400 million monthly shoppers, Euronews writes.

More than 90 per cent of these e-commerce clothing items are made from cheap synthetic polymers such as polyester, elastane and nylon. These garments are essentially soft plastics that do not biodegrade and eventually become microplastics.

Until now, these products were shipped directly from overseas factories to consumers, bypassing EU controls on harmful chemicals and components. The EU’s new customs directive will require electronic tracking data for every incoming package. Border authorities can screen shipments for illegal chemical levels and safety violations before they enter Europe.

According to Pelle Moos, chemical expert and policy officer at consumer group BEUC, “every second, around 200 products enter the EU.