Temu Faces Global Regulatory Storm: Product Safety & Quality Inspection in the Spotlight
In recent years, cross-border e-commerce platform Temu has rapidly expanded its global market share by leveraging a “super low price + wide selection” strategy. However, as its footprint grows, Temu has faced mounting criticism—particularly in Europe and North America—over insufficient product safety and regulatory compliance, exposing structural weaknesses in its quality control across the supply chain.
1. High-Risk Product Categories
The following product types have drawn the most regulatory scrutiny:
1. Children’s Products:
- Toys not tested under EN 71 or similar EU standards.
- Small detachable parts that may be swallowed.
- Excessive levels of phthalates in plastic components.
2. Small Appliances & Electronics:
- Chargers and batteries missing EMC/CE safety tests.
- Plugs incompatible with local standards, risk of shock/fire.
3. Food Contact Materials (e.g. tableware):
- Non-compliant materials used.
- No migration test reports from recognized bodies (e.g., FDA, LFGB）
2. EU Investigation: Large Number of Non-Compliant Products on the Platform
In July 2025, the European Commission launched a formal investigation into Temu under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The primary concern: a significant portion of products sold on the platform fail to meet the EU‘s mandatory safety standards.
Key Issues Identified:
Regulators used “mystery shopping” to verify product safety and discovered many listings lacked technical documentation or safety reports. This suggests Temu has not established a robust product inspection system and fails to adequately vet third-party sellers.
3. Weak Inspection Framework: Structural Challenges Behind Rapid Expansion
Temu’s core model is C2M (Consumer to Manufacturer), aiming to cut costs by removing intermediaries. While efficient, this model also results in weaker oversight:
For consumers, this means low-cost goods may enter the market without thorough safety validation, posing hidden risks.
4. Platform Responsibility & Regulatory Trends
As the platform operator, Temu must fulfill obligations under the DSA, including:
- Vetting sellers and verifying product compliance.
- Establishing early-warning systems for high-risk items.
- Cooperating in product recalls.
- Supporting documentation uploads (e.g., Doc, test reports).
- Assisting regulators with tracing violations.
Conclusion: Compliance-Driven Future for Cross-Border E-Commerce
The Temu case reflects an industry-wide issue where the “low price, fast sales” model often sidelines quality and compliance. Going forward, only platforms with complete product inspection systems and alignment with international regulations will earn lasting consumer trust.
In an era of tightening global regulations, “compliance & quality” will become the non-negotiable bottom line for cross-border e-commerce.