The European Commission has imposed a €550 million fine on AliExpress under the Digital Services Act (DSA) after concluding that the marketplace failed to adequately assess and mitigate risks related to illegal, counterfeit, and unsafe products sold to consumers across the European Union.
According to the European Commission, the investigation found shortcomings in AliExpress’s systems for identifying high-risk sellers, removing illegal listings, and preventing the distribution of products that may violate EU consumer protection and product safety rules. The Commission stated that these failures breached obligations under the Digital Services Act, which requires Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) to actively reduce systemic risks on their marketplaces.
The enforcement action focused on issues including counterfeit products, unsafe consumer goods, dangerous toys, cosmetics, and other products that failed to meet applicable EU safety standards. Regulators also concluded that AliExpress’s moderation and risk management measures were not sufficiently effective to protect European consumers.
AliExpress has not been banned in Germany or elsewhere in the European Union. Consumers can continue purchasing products, and businesses can still source products from the platform. However, the company is now subject to increased regulatory oversight and must implement additional compliance measures required by the European Commission.
For eBay Germany sellers, this decision does not prohibit sourcing products from AliExpress. Instead, it highlights the importance of selling compliant products, avoiding counterfeit goods, respecting intellectual property rights, verifying supplier reliability, and ensuring products meet all applicable EU safety and consumer protection requirements before being listed for sale.
AliExpress has announced that it disagrees with the European Commission’s findings and intends to challenge the decision while continuing to strengthen its compliance and product safety systems.
The case represents one of the most significant enforcement actions under the Digital Services Act and demonstrates the European Union’s increasing focus on product safety, counterfeit prevention, marketplace compliance, eCommerce regulation, consumer protection, and online marketplace accountability. Sellers operating on platforms such as eBay Germany should regularly review their sourcing strategy, prioritize compliant suppliers, and remain informed about evolving EU regulations affecting cross-border eCommerce.
