logo
Shein Hit With Complaint From EU Consumer Group Over ‘Dark Patterns'

Shein Hit With Complaint From EU Consumer Group Over ‘Dark Patterns'

Pan-European consumers organisation BEUC filed a complaint with the European Commission on Thursday against online fast-fashion retailer Shein over its use of 'dark patterns', tactics designed to make people buy more on its app and website.
Pop-ups urging customers not to leave the app or risk losing promotions, countdown timers that create time pressure to complete a purchase, and the infinite scroll on its app are among the methods Shein uses that could be considered 'aggressive commercial practices', BEUC said in a report also published on Thursday.
The BEUC also detailed Shein's use of frequent notifications, with one phone receiving 12 notifications from the app in a single day.
'For fast fashion you need to have volume, you need to have mass consumption, and these dark patterns are designed to stimulate mass consumption,' Agustin Reyna, director general of BEUC, said in an interview.
'For us, to be satisfactory they need to get rid of these dark patterns, but the question is whether they will have enough incentive to do so, knowing the potential impact it can have on the volume of purchases.'
In a statement, Shein said: 'We are already working constructively with national consumers authorities and the EU Commission to demonstrate our commitment to complying with EU laws and regulations.' It added that the BEUC had not accepted its request for a meeting.
Shein and rival online discount platform Temu have surged in popularity in Europe, partly helped by apps that encourage shoppers to engage with games and stand to win discounts and free products.
The BEUC has also previously targeted Temu in a complaint.
Shein's use of gamification, drawing shoppers to use the app regularly, has helped drive its success.
In the 'Puppy Keep' game on the app, users feed a virtual dog and collect points to win free items. They can gain more points by scrolling through the app, and by ordering items, but must log into the game every day or risk losing cumulative rewards.
The BEUC noted that dark patterns are widely used by mass-market clothing retailers and called on the consumer protection network to include other retailers in its investigation.
It said 25 of its member organisations in 21 countries, including France, Germany and Spain, joined in the grievance filed with the Commission and with the European consumer protection network.
Late last month, the European Commission notified Shein of practices breaching EU consumer law and warned it would face fines if it failed to address the concerns.
The company is also under scrutiny from EU tech regulators on how it complies with EU online content rules.
By Helen Reid, Inti Landauro; Editor: Mark Heinrich
Learn more:
Shein to Increase Product Safety Testing After EU Probe
After the EU warned of potential fines due to concerns about unsafe products, Shein announced plans to increase its product safety testing and compliance spending in 2025.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Puma inventory headache highlights tariff dilemma for retailers
Puma inventory headache highlights tariff dilemma for retailers

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Puma inventory headache highlights tariff dilemma for retailers

By Helen Reid LONDON (Reuters) -Puma faces a dilemma in the United States: after rushing shipments from Asia to beat incoming tariffs, the German sportswear brand is now discounting to clear stock, while planning to raise prices this year to offset rising costs. These conflicting pressures reflect a broader challenge for retailers trying to make sure U.S. shelves are stocked for the crucial back-to-school and holiday seasons, while looking to pass on higher costs through price increases at a time when demand is softening. Puma, which warned on Thursday that it expects an annual loss, said it was cutting orders and plans to raise prices in the fourth quarter to soften the impact of tariffs, which it estimates will take 80 million euros ($93.78 million) off its annual gross profit. "Elevated inventory levels on our balance sheet are leading to lower full price realisation," Chief Financial Officer Markus Neubrand told journalists on Friday. "In response, we've adjusted our future orders to better match expected demand." At the end of the second quarter, Puma's inventories were up 18.3% in currency-adjusted terms compared with the previous year, hitting 2.151 billion euros. The increase was mostly driven by North America, Neubrand said. But North America was also Puma's weakest region last quarter, with sales down 9.1% in currency-adjusted terms. Puma now expects global sales to fall this year by at least 10%, further heightening the inventory problem. "The idea to front load imports into the U.S. was a sensible tactical position given uncertainty, but it does come with the risk of increased discounting in a weak market," said Adam Cochrane at Deutsche Bank Research. Puma's plan to reduce orders should help bring inventories down, but also reflects weaker demand from retailers, Cochrane added. Puma gets three-quarters of its revenue from wholesale, and sales through that channel fell 6.3% in the last quarter. Puma aims to bring inventory levels down and rely less on discounting, but Neubrand warned that this could take up to a year. The company does not break out U.S. figures, but the market accounts for around 20% of global sales. "Looking specifically at the U.S., the ability to push through price increases not only appears challenging in the context of higher inventories being up 18% ex-FX, but also given Puma's muted brand momentum in the region amid an increasingly competitive environment," said Felix Dennl, analyst at Metzler in Frankfurt. Even before tariffs, Puma was struggling, with products such as the relaunched Speedcat sneaker not selling as well as expected. CEO Arthur Hoeld, in charge since July 1, warned 2025 would be a "reset" year and 2026 a "transition", as he attempts a turnaround after predecessor Arne Freundt failed to revive sales. Puma's balancing act is one shared by all retailers in the U.S., where memories of record inventory pile-ups in 2022 in the wake of pandemic supply chain disruptions are still fresh. The glut that triggered deep discounting and dented profits is a situation retailers are anxious to avoid repeating. ($1 = 0.8531 euros)

Sarepta Therapeutics Acknowledges CHMP Negative Opinion for ELEVIDYS in the European Union
Sarepta Therapeutics Acknowledges CHMP Negative Opinion for ELEVIDYS in the European Union

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sarepta Therapeutics Acknowledges CHMP Negative Opinion for ELEVIDYS in the European Union

Partner Roche will continue its dialogue with the European Medicines Agency to explore a potential path forward to make ELEVIDYS available to individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the EU ELEVIDYS is the first and only disease-modifying gene therapy for Duchenne CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, acknowledges that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a negative opinion on the conditional marketing authorization (CMA) for ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec) in ambulatory individuals ages three to seven years for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). "While we are disappointed by the CHMP's negative opinion, we understand the urgent need for continued dialogue and collaboration to bring transformative therapies to people with Duchenne who live with a relentless disease that steals their mobility, independence and ultimately life – often by early adulthood," said Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., president of research & development and technical operations, Sarepta. "Following the initial FDA approval of ELEVIDYS on June 22, 2023, the therapy has subsequently received regulatory approval in several other countries. In the U.S., we are actively working with the FDA to address recent safety questions. We remain committed to working with regulators to address outstanding questions on safety so that people living with Duchenne have access to this important therapy." ELEVIDYS is the first and only approved gene therapy targeting the underlying cause of disease that has consistently demonstrated stabilization or slowing of DMD disease progression, with durable effects on functional and biological outcomes and muscle health. While the primary endpoint was not met in EMBARK after one year, ELEVIDYS showed clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements across important secondary endpoints of functional outcome measures when compared to placebo. Longer term efficacy data were also submitted to EMA, including two-year results from the EMBARK study and three-year pooled efficacy analysis from three other ELEVIDYS studies that showed clinically meaningful improvements across key measures of motor function. One-year data from part one of the EMBARK study were published in Nature Medicine in October 2024, and results from year two were shared at this year's Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical & Scientific Conference in Dallas. Quantitative muscle MR (magnetic resonance) outcomes from part 1 of EMBARK were published in JAMA Neurology in May 2025. Sarepta is responsible for regulatory approval and commercialization of ELEVIDYS in the U.S., as well as manufacturing. Roche is responsible for regulatory approvals and bringing ELEVIDYS to patients across the rest of the world. Regulatory approval and commercialization of ELEVIDYS in Japan is through Chugai Pharmaceuticals via its alliance with Roche. About ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl)ELEVIDYS (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) is a single-dose, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene transfer therapy for intravenous infusion designed to address the underlying genetic cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy – mutations or changes in the DMD gene that result in the lack of dystrophin protein – through the delivery of a transgene that codes for the targeted production of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin in skeletal muscle. ELEVIDYS is indicated in U.S. for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in individuals at least 4 years of age. For patients who are ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene For patients who are non-ambulatory and have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene. The DMD indication in non-ambulatory patients is approved under accelerated approval in the U.S. based on expression of ELEVIDYS micro-dystrophin (noted hereafter as "micro-dystrophin") in skeletal muscle. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATION: ELEVIDYS is contraindicated in patients with any deletion in exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: Infusion-related Reactions: Infusion-related reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, have occurred during or up to several hours following ELEVIDYS administration. Closely monitor patients during administration and for at least 3 hours after the end of infusion. If symptoms of infusion-related reactions occur, slow, or stop the infusion and give appropriate treatment. Once symptoms resolve, the infusion may be restarted at a lower rate. ELEVIDYS should be administered in a setting where treatment for infusion-related reactions is immediately available. Discontinue infusion for anaphylaxis. Acute Serious Liver Injury: Acute serious liver injury has been observed with ELEVIDYS, and administration may result in elevations of liver enzymes (such as GGT, GLDH, ALT, AST) or total bilirubin, typically seen within 8 weeks. Patients with preexisting liver impairment, chronic hepatic condition, or acute liver disease (e.g., acute hepatic viral infection) may be at higher risk of acute serious liver injury. Postpone ELEVIDYS administration in patients with acute liver disease until resolved or controlled. Prior to ELEVIDYS administration, perform liver enzyme test and monitor liver function (clinical exam, GGT, and total bilirubin) weekly for the first 3 months following ELEVIDYS infusion. Continue monitoring if clinically indicated, until results are unremarkable (normal clinical exam, GGT, and total bilirubin levels return to near baseline levels). Systemic corticosteroid treatment is recommended for patients before and after ELEVIDYS infusion. Adjust corticosteroid regimen when indicated. If acute serious liver injury is suspected, consultation with a specialist is recommended. Immune-mediated Myositis: In clinical trials, immune-mediated myositis has been observed approximately 1 month following ELEVIDYS infusion in patients with deletion mutations involving exon 8 and/or exon 9 in the DMD gene. Symptoms of severe muscle weakness, including dysphagia, dyspnea, and hypophonia, were observed. Limited data are available for ELEVIDYS treatment in patients with mutations in the DMD gene in exons 1 to 17 and/or exons 59 to 71. Patients with deletions in these regions may be at risk for a severe immune-mediated myositis reaction. Advise patients to contact a physician immediately if they experience any unexplained increased muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, including dysphagia, dyspnea, or hypophonia, as these may be symptoms of myositis. Consider additional immunomodulatory treatment (immunosuppressants [e.g., calcineurin-inhibitor] in addition to corticosteroids) based on patient's clinical presentation and medical history if these symptoms occur. Myocarditis: Acute serious myocarditis and troponin-I elevations have been observed following ELEVIDYS infusion in clinical trials. If a patient experiences myocarditis, those with pre-existing left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) impairment may be at higher risk of adverse outcomes. Monitor troponin-I before ELEVIDYS infusion and weekly for the first month following infusion and continue monitoring if clinically indicated. More frequent monitoring may be warranted in the presence of cardiac symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Advise patients to contact a physician immediately if they experience cardiac symptoms. Preexisting Immunity against AAVrh74: In AAV-vector based gene therapies, preexisting anti-AAV antibodies may impede transgene expression at desired therapeutic levels. Following treatment with ELEVIDYS, all patients developed anti-AAVrh74 antibodies. Perform baseline testing for presence of anti-AAVrh74 total binding antibodies prior to ELEVIDYS administration. ELEVIDYS administration is not recommended in patients with elevated anti-AAVrh74 total binding antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:400. Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) reported in clinical studies were vomiting, nausea, liver injury, pyrexia, and thrombocytopenia. Report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Sarepta Therapeutics at 1-888-SAREPTA (1-888-727-3782). For further information, please see the full Prescribing Information. About Sarepta TherapeuticsSarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold leadership positions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) and are building a robust portfolio of programs across muscle, central nervous system, and cardiac diseases. For more information, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. Internet Posting of InformationWe routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website at We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us. Forward-Looking StatementsThis statement contains "forward-looking statements." Any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "may," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our future operations, research and development programs, discussions with regulators and the prospects for approvals or continued approvals, as applicable, of ELEVIDYS and the potential benefits and risks of ELEVIDYS. Actual results could materially differ from those stated or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Known risk factors include the following: different methodologies, assumptions and applications we use to assess particular safety or efficacy parameters may yield different statistical results; our products or product candidates may be perceived as insufficiently effective, unsafe or may result in unforeseen adverse events; our products or product candidates may cause undesirable side effects that result in significant negative consequences; the possible impact of regulatory decisions by, and any halts imposed by, regulatory agencies on our business; and those risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by the Company, which you are encouraged to review. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations and the trading price of Sarepta's common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties Sarepta faces, you are encouraged to review the SEC filings made by Sarepta. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein. Sarepta does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law. Source: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. View source version on Contacts Investor Contact: Ian Estepan617-274-4052iestepan@ Media Contacts: Tracy Sorrentino617-301-8566tsorrentino@ Kara Hoeger617-710-3898KHoeger@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Europe's companies sound alarm over tariff hits amid scramble to strike U.S. trade deal
Europe's companies sound alarm over tariff hits amid scramble to strike U.S. trade deal

CNBC

time30 minutes ago

  • CNBC

Europe's companies sound alarm over tariff hits amid scramble to strike U.S. trade deal

European officials are working to secure a trade deal with the Trump administration, as regional companies sound the alarm over financial hits even before reciprocal tariffs have come into play. Earlier this month , U.S. President Donald Trump said he would slap a 30% tariff on all goods imported to America from the European Union, starting Aug. 1. Investors are now awaiting developments in EU-U.S. negotiations, though a trade agreement is so far yet to emerge. Meanwhile, European officials continue to work on countermeasures that could be deployed if the White House goes ahead with its 30% duties on the bloc's goods. Autos giants Europe's automakers have been reeling from the impact of U.S. tariffs, as well as tough competition from Chinese car brands and bumps on the road to full electrification. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles and car parts in early April, taking the total charge on EU auto imports to 27.5%. Washington has recently threatened to raise the levy to 30% from next month. Germany's Volkswagen on Friday said that increased U.S. tariffs added 1.3 billion euros ($1.53 billion) in costs over the first half of the year. The company, which reported a sharp drop in second-quarter operating profit, also lowered its full-year guidance. Jeep maker Stellantis had previously taken the surprise step of releasing preliminary figures ahead of its first-half earnings, saying it expects a loss of 2.3 billion euros. Stellantis, which owns household names including Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot, incurred an initial hit of 300 million euros in its first-half results due to net tariffs incurred, as well as planned production losses as part of its response plan. Sweden's Volvo Cars also reported a sizable downturn in second-quarter operating profit as Trump's tariffs took their toll. Puma Elsewhere, German sportswear giant Puma on Friday announced that it expected to post an operating loss for the financial year, noting that U.S. trade policies were dampening sales. Before fully factoring in the impact of tariffs and adjusting its outlook, Puma had been forecasting a full-year profit in the range of 445 million euros and 525 million euros ($522.6 million and $616.5 million). Remy Cointreau Although French drinks maker Remy Cointreau raised its full-year outlook when it reported on its earnings on Friday, it said it was now expecting to take a bigger hit from U.S. tariffs than previously anticipated. The company — which exports high-end cognac along with its various spirits brands including Cointreau and Mount Gay rum — said it expected to see a total net tariffs impact of 35 million euros in full-year 2025-26, versus the 25 million euros it had previously anticipated. Nokia On Tuesday, Nokia cut its comparable operating profit guidance range to 1.6 billion euros to 2.1 billion euros. It had previously expected the figure to fall in the range of 1.9 billion euros to 2.4 billion euros. "Since Nokia provided guidance in January for the full year 2025, two headwinds outside its control are impacting the 2025 outlook," the company said in a late-Tuesday statement. "The largest headwind is currency fluctuations (particularly the weaker USD), an approximately EUR 230 million negative impact ... Also, the current tariff landscape is expected to impact full year operating profit by EUR 50 million to EUR 80 million." That represents a tariff hit of around $94 million. Guidance guessing game German truck maker Traton on Friday also cut its guidance on Friday, citing Trump's tariffs regime as a key driver of slowing sales. "We are now anticipating a significant decline for the North American truck market," the company said in its first-half earnings report. Traton said it now expected sales to decline by up to 10% in the current financial year, compared to its previously forecast fall of up to 5% or 5% growth. The revenue outlook was also lowered to a range between a 10% fall to flat growth, down from earlier guidance of a 5% decline to a 5% hike for the full year. The company noted that its guidance was based on "the tariff situation applicable at the end of the first half of the year." "The forecast therefore does not factor in any effects of possible additional tariffs such as tariffs of 50% on Brazilian and 30% on EU imports," Traton said. "There is therefore continued uncertainty about the future impact of the US trade policy." Other companies could also soon be forced to reassess their guidance, after basing their outlooks for the year on an outcome in which Trump's threatened 30% tariffs on the EU do not come to fruition — and the EU does not retaliate. French defense giant Thales , for example, is currently anticipating "a contained direct impact of tariffs" — but its outlook is based on a scenario of 10% tariffs being imposed on EU goods. Last week, an EU diplomat told CNBC that a 15% baseline tariff rate was currently the base-case situation being anticipated by officials. "The 2025 guidance assumes reciprocal tariffs of 10% from Europe and 25% from Mexico, and exclude any retaliatory measures that might be taken by Europe in this context," Thales said in its second-quarter trading update this week, as it lifted its outlook under the assumption of "no new disruption in the macroeconomic and geopolitical contexts." CNBC has reached out to Thales for comment. European exporters 'shouldering the cost' In a note to clients on Friday, Citi economists said they were seeing "tentative evidence that some European exporters are shouldering the cost of higher US tariffs, at least at this initial stage." "Yet, we doubt this will lead to price hikes domestically in attempts to rebuild margins," they said. "Other effects of tariffs remain disinflationary: data suggest imported disinflation from China is intensifying. And the impacts of the sizable and fast euro appreciation are mostly still in the pipeline." The investment bank's economists said they were now forecasting core goods inflation in the euro zone at 0% in 2026 "as a result of these effects." — CNBC's Karen Gilchrist and Silvia Amaro contributed to this article.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store