Technology
More Than 80 European Organisations Urge EU To Halt Unsafe E-Commerce Imports
August 03, 2026 5:30 AM
By Branislav Pekic
A coalition of over 80 European industry, consumer rights and environmental organisations has called for urgent action to halt unsafe e-commerce imports.
In a joint letter to the executive VP of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné, the signatories urged the EU to implement stricter regulations governing the sale of products via e-commerce platforms.
Specifically, the letter called for the upcoming European Product Act to close existing regulatory loopholes that currently permit unsafe and non-compliant goods to reach European consumers through online marketplaces.
The groups warned that a tidal wave of non-compliant, unsafe, and environmentally damaging products from outside the EU is flooding European homes via online marketplaces, bypassing existing regulations.
In 2025 alone, an estimated 5.9 billion low-value parcels entered the EU.
National customs and market surveillance authorities are overwhelmed by the sheer volume and lack the resources necessary to police the influx effectively.
The signatory organisations argue that increased enforcement alone cannot solve a fundamental accountability gap.
Legal Loopholes
Currently, many third-country sellers operate without a legal entity inside the EU.
Online platforms – including marketplaces, social media, and live-streaming services – facilitate these sales, but are often classified merely as intermediaries.
This legal loophole shields them from responsibility, leaving enforcement authorities relying on reactive ‘notice-based mechanisms’ that are wholly inadequate to stop the relentless flood of illegal goods.
The coalition emphasised that the Digital Services Act (DSA), although an important step forward, does not fully address this specific structural enforcement loophole regarding product compliance.
According to the coalition, every single product placed on the EU market must have a clearly identified economic operator established within the EU/EEA that is legally accountable for all compliance and EPR requirements.
Online platforms facilitating sales for non-EU sellers must verify that a responsible EU-based operator exists before the product is listed for sale.
If no such operator can be demonstrated, the platform itself must be held liable as the economic operator.
