French Parliament Passes Bill Imposing Fees and Ad Ban on High-Volume Low-Repair-Cost Clothing Sellers

The French parliament passed a bill on Monday that imposes penalty fees and an advertising ban on companies selling large volumes of low-quality clothing at low prices, including the Asian e-commerce platforms Shein, Temu and AliExpress. The Sénat approved the measure after the lower house passed it last week.

The legislation applies to firms meeting two criteria: high volume of clothing placed on the market and low repair costs relative to purchase price.

The per-item fee will increase over time and could reach up to €20 by 2030, capped at 50 percent of the product's pre-tax price. Revenue from the fees will support collection and recycling infrastructure. The bill also bans advertising for qualifying brands, including promotions by social media influencers.

Companies must display messages on their websites encouraging moderate consumption, reuse and repair. Trade Minister Serge Papin said last week that the measure targets companies driving the surge in ultra-fast fashion. "Their names, which were still unknown three years ago are now on everyone's lips in France: Temu, Shein and AliExpress," he said.

Anne-Cecile Violland, the member of parliament who proposed the bill, said lawmakers needed legislation that could pass quickly and become operational. The textile industry accounts for nearly 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the legislation's background materials. The bill was first introduced two-and-a-half years ago.