Ankara: France will introduce financial penalties from Tuesday targeting ultra-fast fashion products sold by platforms including Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, according to French broadcaster RMC-BFM.

According to Anadolu Agency, the measure is part of an anti-fast-fashion law adopted this summer and will apply to products classified as ultra-fast fashion. This classification is based on an environmental score calculated using factors such as the volume of products placed on the market and their reparability. The penalties will initially be set at £0.50 ($0.58) for underwear, £6 ($7) for a shirt, £9 ($10.50) for jeans, and £12 ($14) for a jacket. By 2030, these amounts are expected to increase to £2 ($2.33), £8.25 ($9.63), £17.25 ($20.13), and £19.50 ($22.75), respectively. The penalty will be capped at 50% of a product's sale price.

The measure targets brands that place more than 16,000 product references on the market per season across five categories. Shein, which places more than 1.7 million references on the market annually, is directly affected by the criteria, despite not being explicitly named in the law. In contrast, fast-fashion brands such as Primark, Zara, Uniqlo, and H and M will not be subject to the penalty under the current criteria.

The charges will be imposed on companies, which will have the option to pass the cost on to consumers through higher prices or a separate fee at checkout. This measure follows a similar charge on small parcels that took effect in France in July.