Dangerous, counterfeit products, goods that do not comply with European laws... After more than a year of investigation, the European Commission believes, in a preliminary report, that the Chinese e-commerce site AliExpress is not doing enough against "illicit products" sold on its platform.
In a press release published this Wednesday, June 18, Brussels wrote that AliExpress, which belongs to the Chinese parent company Alibaba, failed to fulfill its "obligation to assess and mitigate the risks associated with the distribution of illicit products," an obligation contained in the DSA, the European Digital Services Act. However, these are not definitive conclusions, leading to a hefty fine, but preliminary conclusions—elements to which AliExpress can respond. The press release does not specify a timeframe.
No sanctions against companies that offer illegal content and repeat offenders?
In March 2024, the Commission announced that it was opening an investigation into the Chinese e-commerce site, alerted in particular to cases of sale of fake medicines and the distribution of pornographic items accessible to minors. And while AliExpress has since proven its credentials on several points, there are three areas where the European executive is awaiting explanations, or even action.
The European executive believes, firstly, that the marketplace has limited resources dedicated to content moderation, as the platform underestimates the risk of distributing illegal (or dangerous) products. The site, which does have a policy of sanctions against professionals who offer illicit products, "does not correctly apply" these rules, including for companies that are repeat offenders. Finally, the "proactive content moderation tools have systemic failures, which makes the systems less effective," writes Brussels.
These three points constitute violations of the obligations of "VLOPs," these very large online platforms designated by the European Commission and of which AliExpress is one, writes the European Commission, still on a preliminary basis. However, digital giants are obliged to "properly assess and mitigate the systemic risks linked to the dissemination of illicit content, such as counterfeit goods or goods that do not comply with European safety regulations," she points out.
Packages from China in Brussels' sights
Brussels also notes that AliExpress had committed to monitoring and detecting illegal products, including medicines and dietary supplements that could pose risks to users' health. This commitment is now legally binding, the executive explains – meaning that any failure to do so will result in financial penalties.
For Henna Virkkunen, the Commission Vice-President responsible for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, quoted in the press release, the objective remains to “guarantee a high level of security for EU citizens while maintaining a level playing field for platforms and traders on the European Union market.”
This press release comes in a very specific context. For several months, packages from China, described as a “tsunami” of cheap imports flooding the Old Continent and which do not comply with European standards, have been in the crosshairs of the European executive – in Europe, nearly nine out of ten imported packages come from China.
Last February, the European Commission presented its strategy to combat these imports. Brussels, which is working to reform its customs duty rules, is also proposing to impose a new €2 tax on small parcels entering the Old Continent. Two EU investigations are also targeting Shein, the Chinese textile platform, on the grounds of consumer protection and the DSA.Contacted by 01net.com, AliExpress explained that it "remains fully committed to complying with the DSA and implementing its commitments. We are confident that a positive and compliant outcome can be achieved through continued constructive discussions with the Commission to address any concerns related to the DSA." "AliExpress is committed to providing a safe and compliant marketplace for consumers in Europe and around the world, in compliance with the laws and regulations in force in the markets where we operate," the company added.
If the European Commission confirms the violation in its final decision, it could impose a hefty fine of up to 6% of the Chinese group's global turnover.
Editor's note: This article was amended after publication to include AliExpress's comment.
Source: European Commission press release of Wednesday, June 18, 2025
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