EU investigates Chinese AliExpress for counterfeit medicines
The background to this are new EU laws that impose stricter requirements on internet companies operating in Europe. These include the Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation that has now been opened concerns the e-commerce sector for the first time.
In October, the EU Commission had already launched investigations into online networks such as Tiktok and X, formerly Twitter. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is also under investigation. The investigation concerns action against misinformation and hate messages in connection with the Middle East war.
In the event of proven and persistent violations, the EU Commission can impose severe penalties on the online companies. In extreme cases, these can amount to six percent of a group's annual turnover. In all cases, however, the companies first have the opportunity to comment.
The EU's investigation into AliExpress for selling counterfeit medicines highlights the need for stronger consumer protection in the e-commerce sector. This aligns with the EU's recent digital policies, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aim to enforce stricter rules on online platforms operating within the EU.
Source: www.ntv.de
