World

CEC study finds safety and chemical compliance failures in online footwear

Oct 13, 2026 CEC

An European Footwear Confederation (CEC) study found widespread failures in terms of chemical and safety compliance in footwear sold on Shein, Temu and AliExpress, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement of EU product safety rules

A mystery shopping study coordinated by the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) found that 36% of the footwear tested from Shein, Temu, and AliExpress failed at least one applicable chemical requirement. Meanwhile, 80% of the safety footwear models assessed failed the relevant performance requirements.

The study, which was conducted between February and May 2026, covered footwear purchased directly from online sellers in seven European countries: the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Nationally accredited laboratories assessed 76 pairs of footwear for compliance with applicable REACH restrictions. Of these, 27 pairs failed at least one chemical requirement, with phthalates being the most common cause of non-compliance. Other substances tested included formaldehyde, heavy metals, hexavalent chromium, nickel release, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins.

The findings also raised concerns about footwear marketed as protective or safety footwear. Of the 10 models tested, eight failed to meet the applicable EN ISO requirements, with shortcomings identified in areas including slip resistance, perforation resistance, impact and compression resistance, and upper-to-outsole bond strength.

The organisation also reported several products with potentially misleading safety claims, missing CE markings, or missing supporting conformity assessment documentation.

While acknowledging that the exercise covered a defined sample of products and platforms, the CEC said that the findings highlight “the need for stronger and more effective enforcement of EU product safety and regulatory requirements across online marketplaces and direct-to-consumer imports”.

The organisation called on the European Commission and EU Member States to ensure effective enforcement and clear accountability across the e-commerce supply chain. It argued that products sold to European consumers should be subject to the same safety and regulatory requirements, regardless of how they enter the market.

Image Credits: cec-footwearindustry.eu

CEC ecommerce Footwear Legal Online