EU investigates Temu over over illegal products

The European Union's executive arm wants to ensure the Chinese online shopping platform's goods "meet EU standards and do not harm consumers."

The European Commission opened an investigation into Chinese online shopping platform Temu on suspicion the site is doing too little to stop the sale of illegal products.

"We want to ensure that Temu is complying with the Digital Services Act. Particularly in ensuring that products sold on their platform meet EU standards and do not harm consumers," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement on Thursday.

Temu said it would cooperate with the EU.

It could face hefty fines, as high as six percent of their global turnover, if the company is found to be in breach of the act. 

The European Commission classified Temu as a "very large online platform" in May, which requires it to take additional measures against illegal and harmful content, as well as counterfeit products, under the DSA.

This is a developing story, more to follow.

lo/kb (AFP, dpa, Reuters)