The Daily Populous Sunday February 2nd, 2025 night edition
Authored by channelnewsasia.com and submitted by apple_kicks

The European Union is planning to make e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein and Amazon Marketplace liable for dangerous or illegal products sold online, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

Customs reforms would oblige online platforms to provide data before goods arrive in the EU, allowing officials to better control and inspect packages, according to a draft proposal seen by FT.

Currently anyone who purchases goods online in the EU is treated as the importer for customs purposes, but the new reform will hold the platforms responsible, the newspaper reported.

Online retailers would have to collect the relevant duty and VAT and ensure the goods comply with other EU requirements, the report said.

Customs data from the 27 national authorities will be pooled and a new central EU customs authority (EUCA) set up, according to the FT.

"The EUCA would be able to screen the goods based on this information and to identify potential risks, even prior to the loading of the goods for transport or their physical arrival in the EU," the FT said, citing the draft.

Amazon, Shein, and the EU did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours. Temu could not be immediately reached.

Peach__Pixie on February 1st, 2025 at 19:07 UTC »

Amazon has become a warehouse full of counterfeit, low quality, junk items. Even when sold directly from Amazon listings it's too easy to receive a copycat of a real product. Some of these products can pose serious health and safety hazards. There absolutely needs to be accountability for this.

palmmoot on February 1st, 2025 at 18:54 UTC »

The horribly unsafe things meant for children on these sites is insane.

NorysStorys on February 1st, 2025 at 18:20 UTC »

Good, platforms should be held responsible for the entities operating on said platforms. It’s been proven time and time again be it commerce or social media that they will not self-regulate.