Boohoo Fined €2.5 Million in France Over Misleading Product Labelling
French regulators have fined Boohoo.com UK approximately $2.7 million (€2.5 million) for misleading product labelling and deceptive discount practices on its website. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) found that the company mislabelled synthetic materials as leather or faux leather and failed to disclose required textile composition details. Additionally, 40% of promotions offered no real discounts, while others exaggerated savings. The fine was approved by the Paris Public Prosecutor under a criminal settlement, with Boohoo agreeing to display compliance notices on its website for 30 days. The company stated that these issues occurred during previous management and have since been resolved through full cooperation with authorities. Following the announcement, shares in Debenhams, Boohoo's parent company, fell by 2.4%. This action is part of a broader regulatory crackdown on fast-fashion retailers like Shein and Temu, as French lawmakers seek to address consumer deception and environmental concerns linked to disposable fashion.
Topics: consumer_protection online_fashion retail_compliance