Warning to people who shop on Temu
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has warned that direct-from-China online marketplace Temu is selling unsafe and hazardous products, several of which are illegal in the European Union.
“The evidence against Temu is building up,” the organisation said in a report published last week.
“Our report’s conclusions are clearcut: there are real and substantiated concerns and Temu is an entry point for dangerous products.”
BEUC said that tests carried out over the last fifteen months by consumer groups within its network exposed the shoddy safety of certain products sold through Temu.
“BEUC members in Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom conducted the tests focusing on different types of products, ranging from cosmetics to children’s toys, revealing a litany of problems,” it said.
“These include too easily detachable small parts of children’s toys and baby products which can cause suffocation, missing or incorrect ingredients’ list in cosmetics, or highly dangerous electric heaters.”
BEUC’s report includes findings from the Danish Consumer Council, which said Temu sold a number of poorly-made electrical products such as a water-filling lamp and power supplies that could cause electrocution.
It also found cheap plastic toys that contain hormone disrupting phthalates up to 240 times above the legal limit.
The International Cancer Institute classifies phthalates as carcinogenic and warns that prolonged contact with the human body should be avoided.
Another highly concering discovery was disposable tableware and baking paper for sale on Temu that had been illegally treated with “forever chemicals” (PFAS).
Several of these products that come into contact with food had levels of fluorine that were 10 to 50 times higher than what is allowed in paper and cardboard in direct contact with food in Denmark.
“Scientists have linked PFAS exposures to increased cancer risks, immune system dysfunction, and several other health problems,” warned BEUC.
The UK Consumers’ Association website Which? warned that cheap electric heaters from Temu could also result in an electric shock, explode, or cause a fire.
“This dangerous heater hadn’t been properly assembled and the live parts were easy to access, running the risk of electric shock,” Which? stated.
“We checked two samples and they both had the same problem. The internal circuitry and wiring was very poor and the heater came with an illegal plug and a fake fuse,” the consumer group continued.
“It’s so badly made that it also presents a fire and explosion hazard. The manual, product markings and packaging were all missing required information, such as who imported the product and how to use it safely.”
At the time when the evaluation was conducted in December 2023, the merchant had sold 353 of these dangerous heaters, and two other sellers listing identical products claimed to have sold 8,900 sales between them.
Italian consumer organisation Altroconsumo found in October 2023 that Temu sold many toys and gadgets with illegal or counterfeit CЄ markings.
A CЄ mark indicates that the manufacturer or importer of a product affirms its conformity with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards. It is neither a certification mark nor a quality indicator.
According to the CE Marking Association, it is a criminal offence to affix a CЄ mark to a product that is not compliant.
“There is a clear, and widespread problem with Temu which authorities must solve urgently,” said BEUC director general Agustín Reyna.
“Consumers have dangerous products entering their homes, while many businesses in Europe which take the time to comply with our laws are being subject to unfair competition.”
Reyna said they are asking the European Commission to conclude its ongoing investigation and take deterrent and effective action against Temu.
A MyBroadband investigation previously found that Temu is allowing merchants on its platform to sell electronics without the necessary regulatory approvals from South African authorities.
None of the devices we purchased for our test had an Icasa sticker, although they bore FCC and CЄ markings.
However, the findings from Italy’s Altroconsumo raises questions about whether these markings can be trusted on items bought from Temu.
MyBroadband contacted Temu for comment, and the Chinese marketplace said it takes product safety very seriously and exercises strict control over the products offered on its platform.
“We have a comprehensive quality control system in place to prevent, detect, and remove non-compliant products and continuously refine and strengthen it to safeguard the interests of consumers,” Temu stated.
“Through seller vetting, product inspections, continuous monitoring, and rapid response to complaints and feedback, customers can shop with confidence and peace of mind on Temu.”
Temu said it collaborates with global leaders in testing and certification such as TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland Group, SGS, and Bureau Veritas Group to ensure third-party seller products meet required standards.
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