France Warns Shein of Market Ban Over ‘Childlike’ Sex Dolls Scandal

France’s finance minister has issued a stern warning to global fast-fashion retailer Shein, threatening to ban the company from operating in the country if it resumes selling “childlike” sex dolls.

The controversy erupted after France’s anti-fraud agency discovered dolls on Shein’s platform described in a manner suggesting a “child pornography nature”. One of the dolls, reportedly around 80 centimetres tall and pictured holding a teddy bear, sparked widespread outrage when featured by Le Parisien newspaper.

Following the revelation, Shein quickly removed the products and launched an internal investigation. However, Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the government would not hesitate to impose a ban if such items reappeared. “These horrible items are illegal,” he stated during an interview with BFMTV, adding that a judicial inquiry was underway.

The incident comes just days before Shein’s planned first-ever physical store opening in Paris, a move already criticised by environmental and labour rights groups.

Shein, headquartered in Singapore but originally founded in China, has faced mounting scrutiny across Europe for labour practices, environmental impact, and consumer law violations. France has fined the company €191 million in 2025 alone, while the European Commission continues to investigate potential breaches linked to unsafe and misleading products.

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