Before the end-of-year holidays, while the French begin their Christmas shopping and do their shopping online, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention alerts consumers to these products (toys, equipment and beauty).
As Christmas approaches, many French people want to get good deals while saving precious time. To anticipate the race for Christmas gifts and please the whole family and loved ones, there’s nothing like ordering your products online. Especially since certain websites generally offer more attractive offers than in stores. Thus, the virtual baskets fill up. But this race for bargains can have unpleasant surprises in store. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) is sounding the alarm: certain products sold on major online platforms present serious risks for the safety of consumers, particularly children.
At the beginning of October, the organization published the results of its controls carried out in September 2025. Twelve references deemed dangerous were withdrawn from sale on several marketplaces, including Shein and Temu, but also AliExpress, Cdiscount, Ebay and Amazon. At issue: products that do not comply with European safety requirements, often lacking CE marking or containing prohibited substances. “Balloons, toys, electrical equipment, nail polish… The products presented risks of injury, electrocution, burns,” specifies the DGCCRF.
Among the list of pinned products are: the Explosive Science toy from the Buki brand sold on Amazon (chemical risk that can cause vision problems); the “breathing Stitch” plush presenting a choking risk and sold on Amazon, but also balloons from the OWill brand, also sold on the same platform. The DGCCRF also withdrew from sale a Brandt “Sushi party” rice cooker, a Zanzala lamp oil, two extension heads, an adapter and on the beauty side: a UV nail lamp from the BeautylusHH brand, “Fashionable Cat’s Eye Magnetic Gel” nail polish from the Weijayi brand as well as a tattoo ink from the Intenze brand.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises before the holidays, the DGCCRF reminds you of a few simple rules. Always check the presence of the CE marking, consult the reviews and the product sheet, and favor sites or sellers identified in the European Union. If in doubt, it is possible to report a suspicious article on the SignalConso.gouv.fr platform. The organization also invites buyers to refer to its regularly updated list of recalled or dangerous products, available at rappel.conso.gouv.fr. A useful reflex to adopt before wrapping Christmas presents.
