Urgent call: EU must act against ultra-fast Fashion and implement textile regulations

A group of members of the European Parliament is pressing the European Commission to take immediate and decisive action to curb the rise of ultra-fast fashion in the EU market. In a priority question, MEPs from the PPE group ask how the Commission plans to use trade and regulatory tools to protect Member States from unfair competition and non-compliant textiles.

The MEPs pose two urgent questions to the Commission:

1. If the Commission considers that national legislation falls short, what urgent action will it take at EU level to protect Member States from unfair competition? How many weeks will the Commission need to take the requisite measures?

2. Will the Commission commit to using all the legal and trade instruments at its disposal to ban the sale on the European market of ultra-fast fashion products that do not conform to EU legislation? 

MEPs ask how the Commission plans to use trade and regulatory tools to protect Member States from unfair competition and non-compliant textiles from ultra fast-fashion

Why the urgent call for EU to implement textile regulations?

Ultra-fast fashion refers to extremely low-cost, high-volume clothing imports that reach the European market often through parcel shipments and offer minimal longevity or sustainability. According to the MEPs, the issue is exacerbated by large volumes of small-value parcels: EU customs services recorded about 4.6 billion parcels worth under €150 in 2024, many of which contained textile products that do not comply with EU legislation.

The textile industry is a significant sector: for example France’s trade deficit in the textile industry (excluding energy) is said to be over 20 %. Furthermore, the fashion-retail ecosystem is now being reshaped by players like SHEIN, which announced on 1 October 2025 that it would open its first physical stores in France. Just two days earlier, the European Commission had requested that the French authorities postpone adoption of a national law aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry, citing potential conflicts with EU law.

Will EU act and implement textile regulations against ultra fast-fashion

For EU policy-makers, the challenge is two-fold: first, enforcing existing legislation on textiles (covering product safety, environmental standards, trade compliance) and second, tackling the business model of ultra-fast fashion which relies on rapid turnover, minimal cost, and often low quality and unsustainable production. The sheer volume of parcels and imports complicates customs enforcement and regulatory oversight.

MEPs argue that without stronger EU-level action, Member States risk being flooded with textile goods that undercut local producers, bypass environmental obligations and degrade market standards. The opening of retail outlets by ultra-fast-fashion brands in major EU markets adds urgency to the demand for a robust EU response.

What could happen next

The European Commission now faces pressure to detail a timeline and strategy for intervention. Possible actions include:

• Deploying customs and trade-law tools to block non-compliant textile imports.

• Harmonising EU-wide standards and enforcement for textile products, especially low-value parcel shipments.

• Considering bans or restrictions on ultra-fast-fashion goods that fail to meet legislation.

• Enhancing transparency and due-diligence obligations on brands and importers operating in the EU.

In summary: EU must act against ultra fast-fashion and implement textile regulation

MEP:s Question: Europaparlamentet

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