More than 35% of the footwear analyzed on international e-commerce platforms fails to meet European requirements regarding the use of chemicals. In the safety footwear segment, the non-compliance rate reaches 80%. The European Footwear Confederation (CEC) is calling for stricter enforcement and greater accountability from digital platforms.
A study coordinated by the European Footwear Confederation (CEC) revealed that more than one-third of the pairs of shoes purchased on major e-commerce platforms do not comply with European standards regarding the presence of chemicals considered potentially hazardous to consumer health.
The investigation took place between February and May 2026 and involved purchasing items from the Shein, Temu, and AliExpress platforms in seven European markets: the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The goal was to verify whether the products sold comply with EU safety and compliance requirements.
Of the 76 pairs of shoes subjected to laboratory testing, 27 showed at least one non-compliance with current legislation, representing 35.5% of the sample. Substances detected above permitted limits included phthalates, formaldehyde, hexavalent chromium, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and short-chain chlorinated paraffins.
The results regarding phthalates are of particular concern. These substances, often used to make plastic materials flexible, are heavily restricted in the European Union due to their potential health impacts.
Of the 50 pairs tested for phthalates, 15 exceeded the legal limits. In one case, a concentration of 37% was recorded, which is approximately 370 times the maximum limit of 0.1% set by the European REACH regulation.
The study also identified non-compliance in 30% of the samples tested for hexavalent chromium, 21.4% for short-chain chlorinated paraffins, 10% for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 9.3% for formaldehyde, and 4% for heavy metals.
According to Luís Onofre, president of APICCAPS, the results should be interpreted as an important warning sign. He considers it inconsistent to demand high compliance standards from European industry while simultaneously allowing products that do not adhere to the same rules to enter the market.
According to Luís Onofre, this situation undermines the competitiveness of European companies and, at the same time, exposes consumers to unnecessary risks.
Safety footwear has concerning flaws
The investigation reveals an even more alarming situation in the footwear segment marketed as personal protective equipment.
Of the ten models subjected to physical-mechanical and safety tests, eight failed to meet at least one of the required standards, resulting in a non-compliance rate of 80%.
Among the problems detected are deficiencies in slip resistance and puncture resistance, inadequate protection against impacts and compression, weaknesses in the protective toe caps, and deficiencies in the bond between the sole and the upper part of the shoe.
Products advertised as safety footwear were also found to lack proper CE marking or the mandatory documentation proving regulatory compliance. In some cases, the marketing claims were considered potentially misleading.
These irregularities are particularly serious, as they involve products designed to protect workers from occupational hazards and could directly compromise user safety.
Differences Among the Platforms Analyzed
The assessment identified varying levels of noncompliance among the platforms covered by the study.
Among the products analyzed, Shein showed noncompliance in 13 of the 27 pairs evaluated, equivalent to 48.1%. For Temu, problems were identified in 14 of the 46 pairs tested, representing 30.4% of the sample.
In the three samples purchased through AliExpress, no violations of the assessed requirements were detected.
The CEC emphasizes, however, that these results apply only to the items examined and should not be interpreted as representative of all products available on these platforms.
Nevertheless, the scale of the irregularities found raises questions about the effectiveness of the control and oversight mechanisms applied to products entering the European market through e-commerce.
Industry Calls for Increased Enforcement
From the perspective of the European Footwear Confederation, the findings demonstrate the need to strengthen control and accountability mechanisms throughout the entire e-commerce supply chain.
The organization maintains that all products sold to European consumers must be subject to the same legal obligations, regardless of their country of origin, the sales channel used, or how they enter the European market.
This issue is particularly sensitive for the European footwear industry, which is subject to stringent requirements regarding product safety, chemical composition, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
The presence on the market of products that do not meet these requirements poses risks to consumers and creates competitive distortions among operators subject to different levels of oversight.
For this reason, the CEC calls on the European Commission and the Member States to intensify cooperation among national authorities, customs services, and enforcement agencies, while also holding digital platforms that facilitate the sale of non-compliant products accountable.
The study comes at a time when the European Union is debating significant changes to the regulatory framework for e-commerce, including new customs rules, a proposed two-euro processing fee for small packages from third countries, and a review of market surveillance mechanisms.
According to Luís Onofre, the defense of free trade must coexist with respect for common rules. He states that the opening of markets cannot mean a lack of control nor allow products to be sold without meeting the standards required of European companies.
The APICCAPS president adds that the goal is not to create protectionist measures, but rather to ensure balanced competitive conditions while safeguarding consumer safety and fair competition.
CTCP participated in the investigation
The study involved the collaboration of various technology centers and specialized laboratories from several European countries, which were responsible for testing and assessing the compliance of the products analyzed.
Portugal was represented by the Portuguese Footwear Technology Center (CTCP), which was part of the European network of entities involved in assessing the quality and safety of footwear.
For the European Footwear Confederation, the study’s main conclusion is clear: the rapid growth of e-commerce must not compromise the safety standards required by the European Union.
The organization believes that consumer protection and the maintenance of fair competition depend on the effective application of the same rules to all economic operators, including those who sell directly to the European market through digital platforms based outside the European Union.