The French Parliament has finally approved a bill aimed at combating ultra-fast fashion. The document provides for new fees, advertising restrictions, and other measures, primarily targeting large Asian online platforms, including Shein, Temu, and AliExpress. This was reported by AFP, as conveyed by UNN.
Details
The bill, which has been under consideration for over two years, is designed to limit the activities of companies that sell large volumes of inexpensive clothing that quickly loses quality and is often replaced by new purchases.
As the authors of the initiative note, the fast fashion industry is one of the largest polluters of the environment — the textile sector accounts for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The document provides for the introduction of a special fee for mass production of textile products, which will gradually increase. By 2030, it could reach up to 20 euros per unit of goods, but will not exceed 50% of the product's value excluding taxes. Part of the proceeds are planned to be directed toward the development of systems for collecting and recycling textile waste.
In addition, the law bans advertising of ultra-fast fashion, including through bloggers and influencers. Companies will also be required to post messages on their websites calling for moderate consumption, reuse, and repair of clothing.
French Minister of Trade Serge Papin stated that the law is primarily aimed at companies that have rapidly expanded their presence in the French market in recent years.
At the same time, the document has already faced criticism. Opponents point out that major European brands, including Zara and Kiabi, are effectively not covered by its provisions. Representatives of the Green Party emphasize that these companies also cannot be considered examples of sustainable fashion.
Furthermore, the European Commission has expressed doubts about the compliance of the advertising ban with EU legislation. If Brussels deems the provisions incompatible with European Union law, France will not be able to enforce this rule.
Also, starting July 1, a temporary customs duty of 3 euros on imports of goods worth up to 150 euros from outside the European Union will take effect in the EU. It will be in effect for two years.
Recall
In Italy, the consumer and competition protection authority fined the online fast fashion giant Shein 1 million euros, finding that it made misleading statements about environmental safety that deceived users.