Danes Buying Christmas Gifts on Risky Temu Site

Opuere Odu

Writer

December 21, 2025
11:15 am

One in ten Danes plan to buy Christmas gifts from Temu despite mounting safety concerns about products sold on Chinese shopping platforms.

Danish survey reveals shopping habits on Temu and Shein

A new survey from the Danish Chamber of Commerce shows that 10 percent of Danes have already bought or plan to buy Christmas or advent gifts from Chinese online retailer Temu. Of those, nearly 5 percent have already made a purchase while another 5 percent expect to do so before the holidays.

The study, conducted by Norstat for the chamber, included over 1,000 respondents representing Denmark’s population by age, gender, and education. Temu’s growth reflects a broader trend as another major Chinese retailer, Shein, also continues to attract Danish shoppers. In fact, one in five Danes reported shopping on Shein within the past year.

Safety concerns and illegal products

According to the Danish Consumer Council Think, buying from large Chinese e-commerce platforms carries real risks. The organization has repeatedly found items that do not comply with European safety regulations. Common examples include unsafe baby toys, kitchen products, and electronic devices.

It does not take long to locate questionable listings. Danish media recently found a toy duck listed on Temu that had previously been removed from Shein’s site after it was flagged as a choking hazard for children. Similarly, baby pacifier clips sold on Shein were discovered to be more than twice the legal length allowed by EU standards, increasing the risk of strangulation. Even after a warning, identical or nearly identical products remain available across the platforms.

How retailers respond

Both Shein and Temu claim they follow strict safety procedures and remove illegal items quickly. They state that any seller who violates rules will face penalties. The toy duck in question was removed from Temu’s site, and Shein confirmed the pacifier clips were pulled while the company investigates further.

Still, Danish consumer advocates argue it is not enough. Because thousands of similar products remain, they say it is impossible for individual buyers to know what is safe.

Unfair competition for Danish stores

While consumers may be drawn by low prices, local businesses see the situation differently. The Danish Chamber of Commerce warns that platforms like Temu and Shein create unfair competition by sidestepping the costs of complying with EU safety standards.

Traditional Danish retailers must follow strict regulations before selling a single product, while massive platforms can host thousands of independent sellers without the same oversight. As one trade representative has noted, it is frustrating that Danes continue to buy unsafe or illegal goods abroad when local stores are bound by different rules.

For comparison, Danish resale app ReShopper recently made headlines when it banned Shein products entirely after growing concerns about unsafe items. This move reflects how Danish companies are taking their own steps to protect consumers and support fair trade.

Government pushes for EU action

The Danish government also wants stronger regulation. Denmark’s Minister for Business, Morten Bødskov, has said that online platforms must take greater responsibility for what appears on their sites. However, Denmark still lacks support from a majority of EU member states to toughen collective rules.

The minister insists the government will continue pressing for a system that holds international digital marketplaces accountable before unsafe products reach European consumers.

Lack of oversight on digital marketplaces

Consumer protection groups argue the root of the problem lies in weak supervision. They call for modernized EU mechanisms to make sure all goods sold to European customers meet existing safety laws. Without that, they say, it is too easy for unsafe imports to bypass traditional checks.

Despite repeated warnings from watchdogs, hazardous toys, baby items, and electronics still turn up on popular sites like Temu and Shein. Without stricter enforcement, advocates worry that unsafe online shopping will continue to expand across Denmark.