Statement on e-commerce strategy by Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee Chair

The EU Commission presented its strategy today to make e-commerce safer and more sustainable for Europeans.

Reacting to the Commission’s approach to addressing the challenges posed by e-commerce imports, Internal Market Committee Chair Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE) said:

“I welcome this new action plan tackling the challenges of e-commerce to ensure EU consumer protection. Poisonous baby-soother, exploding batteries or toxic cosmetics – dangerous products have no place on the internal market. But through online platforms such as Shein or Temu, an ever-growing tsunami of products from third countries is landing directly on our doorsteps – bypassing our high-level consumer protection laws, overburdened customs and market surveillance authorities.

It is high time that the European Commission tightens measures to regulate e-commerce, and restores a level playing field between EU companies and those of third countries, including through speedy adoption of the customs reform, consistent enforcement of the Digital Services Act and investigations of infringements of EU consumer law. The new Commission investigation on Shein in this framework is therefore highly welcome.

Finally, we have to give more resources to market surveillance and customs for them to cope with the flood of parcels. A small handling fee on each of the millions of daily orders which are currently overwhelming our surveillance authorities is a good way to finance new robust measures. I welcome this new element.”

Background

Today, the Commission presented a communication for a broad, overarching strategy and specific measures to enhance the regulation of e-commerce. The strategy focuses on the better implementation of existing laws and tools, including the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act the General Product Safety Regulation. The Commission also plans to introduce new initiatives, such as a Digital Fairness Act, a Circular Economy Act and a Chemicals Industry Package.

The key piece of the strategy is the comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Code which the European Commission initiated in May 2023 to help customs authorities better supervise and control the flow of goods into and out of the Union. The reform has several objectives, including better management of the growing volume of parcels from third countries while ensuring all imported goods are safe and comply with EU norms. The European Parliament is ready to start negotiations with member states as soon as the Council has adopted its mandate.