Cada 15 de marzo celebramos el Día Mundial de los Derechos del Consumidor para concienciar sobre los derechos y la protección de los consumidores en todo el mundo. El Parlamento Europeo cumple una función clave a la hora de salvaguardar los derechos de los consumidores en toda la Unión Europea. Dado que en Europa hay más de 450 millones de consumidores, es esencial garantizar el trato justo, la transparencia y la seguridad en el mercado. Veamos cómo protege la Unión los derechos de los consumidores.

El Día Mundial de los Derechos del Consumidor

A propososal for a regulation adopted by the Commission on 19 December 2017 aims to strenghten controls by nationals market surveillance and customs authorities to ensure that products are safe and comply with the Union rules.

The legislation covers a large proportion of products marketed in the EU in more than 20 industrial sectors, including electro-technical products, machinery, radio/telecoms equipment, toys, medical devices, construction products and high speed rail systems.

The package consists of two regulations and a decision designed to remove barriers to the free movement of goods while improving consumer safety.

Goods package and safer products

EU rules on product safety are defined in the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). Under the directive a product is safe if it meets all statutory safety requirements under European or national law. If there are no regulations or EU standards referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union, the product's compliance is determined according to other reference documents such as other European standards, national or international standards, Commission recommendations, or codes of practice. The General Product Safety Directive applies to consumer products when there are no specific provisions with the same objective in the rules of EU Law governing the safety of the products concerned.&nbsp;

Concerning toys, they are specifically covered by the stricter&nbsp;Toy Safety Directive&nbsp;(2009/48/EC).&nbsp;The EU's Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) is the legislation that sets safety criteria for toys marketed in the European Union to ensure they do not pose a risk to children's health and safety. It covers general and specific risks, including physical, flammability, chemical, and electrical hazards. All toys sold in the EU must have a CE mark, which indicates compliance with the directive and other applicable laws, and the directive defines a "toy" as any product intended for play by children under 14.&nbsp;

The European Parliament has supported a new toy safety regulation, reaching a provisional agreement with the Council in April 2025 and approving the Council's position in November 2025. The new rules reinforce safety standards by banning or restricting hazardous chemicals like PFAS and endocrine disruptors, introducing digital product passports for better traceability, and banning allergenic fragrances in certain toys.&nbsp;

Consumer product safety

European measures for consumer protection are intended to protect the health and safety and economic and legal interests of European consumers, wherever they live, travel or shop in the EU.

EU provisions regulate both physical transactions and e-commerce, and contain rules of general applicability together with provisions targeting specific products, including medicines, genetically modified organisms, tobacco products, cosmetics, toys and explosives.

Consumer protection

IMCO Members of the European Parliament are increasing scrutiny of major online marketplaces over the sale of unsafe or illegal products in the EU. As part of this work, the Parliament’s Internal Market Committee invited a representative from AliExpress to a discussion on 23 March 2026. The meeting follows earlier discussions with other platforms and reflects growing concern about product safety, consumer protection, and enforcement of EU rules online.

SHEIN appeared before IMCO on 27 January 2026. The session took place as lawmakers increased attention on how online marketplaces follow EU rules on product safety, consumer protection, and digital platforms. Members are also examining how the European Commission enforces these rules within the EU single market.

Over the past months, Members urged the Commission to strengthen action against illegal and unsafe goods entering the EU, including products sold through large platforms such as SHEIN and Temu. Several Members warned that slow or uneven enforcement across EU countries weakens consumer protection and creates unfair competition. They called for closer cooperation, updates to customs rules, and regular dialogue with online platforms to improve oversight across the market.

IMCO intends to continue holding regular scrutiny sessions on this topic with the Commission and stakeholders.

IMCO discussion with AliExpress representative

SHEIN/illegal and unsafe products online. Representatives of the online Chinese marketplace SHEIN appear before the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) to discuss compliance with EU product safety, consumer protection, and online platforms rules.

Illegal and unsafe products online: SHEIN under the EU spotlight - IMCO Committee meeting

Press conference by Marion WALSMANN (EPP, DE), rapporteur for safety of toys

Press conference on Toys' safety

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee votes on an update to EU rules on the safety of toys to better protect children and tackle the new challenges brought about by e-commerce and new technologies such as AI. The proposed regulation introduces new bans on the most harmful chemicals such as endocrine disruptors and a digital product passport to facilitate safety checks

IMCO vote on Toy safety

IMCO Committee: Temu faces EU scrutiny for systemic sale of unsafe and illegal products

IMCO - AliExpress faces EU scrutiny for systemic sale of unsafe and counterfeit goods

IMCO - Illegal and unsafe products online: SHEIN under the EU spotlight

EP Plenary session - Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports

EP Plenary session - A stronger Europe for safer products to better protect consumers and tackle unfair competition: Boosting EU oversight in e-commerce and imports

EP Plenary session - Voting session

ENVI AGRI PETI joint hearing ' Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics '

EP Plenary session - General product safety

Q&A session with Commission representatives of Felicia STOICA, Head of Unit for Market Surveillance (DG GROW), Rita WEZENBEEK, Director of Online Platforms Economy Directorate (DG CNECT), Fernando PERREAU DE PINNINCK, Head of Unit for Risk Management and Security (DG TAXUD), Eric PELLETIER, Alibaba Vice President and Head of International Government Affairs, and Cindy HUI, General Counsel of AliExpress and Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Chair of the DSA Working group. IMCO Members of the European Parliament are increasing scrutiny of major online marketplaces over the sale of unsafe or illegal products in the EU. As part of this work, the Parliament’s Internal Market Committee invited a representative from AliExpress to a discussion on 23 March 2026. The meeting follows earlier discussions with other platforms and reflects growing concern about product safety, consumer protection, and enforcement of EU rules online.

Exchange of views on AliExpress facing EU scrutiny for systemic sale of unsafe and counterfeit goods: Questions and answers

Opening statements by Commission representatives of Felicia STOICA, Head of Unit for Market Surveillance (DG GROW), Rita WEZENBEEK, Director of Online Platforms Economy Directorate (DG CNECT), Fernando PERREAU DE PINNINCK, Head of Unit for Risk Management and Security (DG TAXUD), Eric PELLETIER, Alibaba Vice President and Head of International Government Affairs, and Cindy HUI, General Counsel of AliExpress and Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Chair of the DSA Working group. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Exchange of views on AliExpress facing EU scrutiny for systemic sale of unsafe and counterfeit goods: opening statements by Commission representatives of DG GROW, DG CNECT and DG TAXUD, Eric PELLETIER, Cindy HUI, and Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK)

This News item presents extracts from the exchange of views at Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) with Eric PELLETIER, Alibaba Vice President and Head of International Government Affairs, and Cindy HUI, General Counsel of AliExpress. IMCO Members of the European Parliament are increasing scrutiny of major online marketplaces over the sale of unsafe or illegal products in the EU. As part of this work, the Parliament’s Internal Market Committee invited a representative from AliExpress to a discussion on 23 March 2026. The meeting follows earlier discussions with other platforms and reflects growing concern about product safety, consumer protection, and enforcement of EU rules online.

AliExpress faces EU scrutiny for systemic sale of unsafe and counterfeit goods: extracts from the exchange of views

This News item presents extracts from the LEX signing ceremony in presence of EP President Roberta METSOLA and Marilena RAOUNA, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency : ENVI - Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 (Detergents and Surfactants Regulation)

LEX signing ceremony: extracts

European Commission representatives and Yinan Zhu, SHEIN’s Business Integrity Group for Greater Europe, answer MEPs questions. Pressure has been mounting on Shein to meet with policymakers, who are concerned about the influx of cheap parcels it generates as well as suspected breaches of EU law and the environmental impact it has, especially as the company was caught selling child-like sex dolls in France. Answers by European Commission representatives and Yinan Zhu, SHEIN’s Business Integrity Group for Greater Europe.

Illegal and unsafe products online - SHEIN under the EU spotlight: answers by European Commission representatives and Yinan Zhu, SHEIN’s Business Integrity Group for Greater Europe

MEPs question European Commission representatives and Yinan Zhu, Head of Business Integrity Group, Greater Europe. Pressure has been mounting on Shein to meet with policymakers, who are concerned about the influx of cheap parcels it generates as well as suspected breaches of EU law and the environmental impact it has, especially as the company was caught selling child-like sex dolls in France. Questions by MEPs.

Illegal and unsafe products online - SHEIN under the EU spotlight: questions by MEPs

Yinan Zhu, Head of Business Integrity Group, Greater Europe opens the discussion with the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer protection (IMCO). Pressure has been mounting on Shein to meet with policymakers, who are concerned about the influx of cheap parcels it generates as well as suspected breaches of EU law and the environmental impact it has, especially as the company was caught selling child-like sex dolls in France. Opening statements by Yinan Zhu, SHEIN’s Business Integrity Group for Greater Europe.

Illegal and unsafe products online - SHEIN under the EU spotlight: opening statement by Yinan Zhu, SHEIN’s Business Integrity Group for Greater Europe

European Commission's DG CNECT and DG GROW representatives open the discussion of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer protection (IMCO) with Yinan Zhu, Head of Business Integrity Group, Greater Europe. Pressure has been mounting on Shein to meet with policymakers, who are concerned about the influx of cheap parcels it generates as well as suspected breaches of EU law and the environmental impact it has, especially as the company was caught selling child-like sex dolls in France. Opening statements by Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), IMCO Committee Chair, European Commission's DG CNECT and DG GROW representatives.

Illegal and unsafe products online - SHEIN under the EU spotlight: opening statements by Anna CAVAZZINI (Greens/EFA, DE), IMCO Committee Chair, European Commission's DG CNECT and DG GROW representatives

consumer product safety (T)

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