The authority warns about Chinese online waste

A foreigner online shopping has grown strongly since last year, which raises concerns about the implementation of producer responsibility, according to Pirkanmaa’s Center for Business, Transport and the Environment (ely).

“The Chinese online giants have grown their foothold in the EU region very quickly. At the same time, however, many of them leave important statutory obligations unfulfilled,” says the chief inspector overseeing distance shopping Tiina Vermaete In the bulletin of the Pirkanmaa ely center.

Customs statistics show a six-fold increase in the number of e-commerce shipments outside the EU since last year. This year, more than 25 million shipments from abroad have already arrived in Finland by November. In the whole of last year, the amount was four million lots.

Most orders are made from China, where 87 percent of foreign orders worth less than 150 euros arrive.

As Christmas approaches, traditionally popular products are electronics, toys and other items suitable as gifts.

According to the Ely Center, the concentration of trading in Chinese online stores raises concerns about the durability and safety of the products. Failure to pay waste management fees can also happen.

Producer responsibility is a legal obligation of companies. Its purpose is to ensure that the waste management of the products is handled appropriately when the products are no longer in use.

In this way, the materials are recovered and consumers can recycle free of charge. The obligation applies not only to Finnish producers, but also to foreign distance sellers, of whom, however, only a small part fulfills their obligations.

According to the Ely Center, it is good for consumers to be aware that foreign online retailers who do not take care of their producer responsibility are shifting their statutory obligations onto the shoulders of others.

“Someone has to pay for the waste management of products ordered from abroad. The supervision of foreign online stores is really challenging, and we cooperate closely with the authorities of other EU countries in our search for ways to hold these operators accountable. Equally important, however, is that we all make responsible choices as consumers,” says Chief Inspector Vermaete in the press release.