Recalls.ie

Buying safely from Temu, Shein and other online marketplaces

Products sold on online marketplaces account for a striking share of Irish product recalls. Here's what the data shows and how to protect yourself.

What the recall data shows

A large share of Irish product-safety notices now involve items sold on online marketplaces. On this site alone you can browse Shein recalls, Temu recalls, Amazon recalls and AliExpress recalls — together they outnumber recalls from any single Irish high-street retailer. The most common problems are choking hazards in toys and baby products, banned chemicals, and electrical/fire risks in chargers and gadgets. See the full breakdown on our statistics page.

Why marketplace goods are riskier

Marketplace sellers are often outside the EU, so products may never have been designed against EU safety standards — CE marking can be missing or meaningless, age warnings absent, and there may be no EU-based party responsible when something goes wrong. That's why the CCPC routinely tests marketplace products and publishes safety notices for them.

Before you buy

  • Check the recall record first. Search this site for the product type — if that exact style of product keeps being recalled (magnetic toys, cheap chargers, novelty teethers), treat it as a red flag.
  • Be strictest with children's products. Toys, teethers and baby gear are the most-recalled marketplace categories. For these, prefer brands with an EU/Irish presence.
  • Look for a named manufacturer and EU address in the listing. No traceable manufacturer means no accountability.
  • Ignore review counts as a safety signal. Thousands of five-star reviews say nothing about chemical content or choking risk.

After you buy

  • Keep the order reference — marketplace recalls are refunded through the platform.
  • Check products when they arrive: loose small parts, flimsy battery covers, missing CE marks or age warnings, strong chemical smells.
  • If a product you bought is later recalled, stop using it and follow the notice — see your refund rights.

Report unsafe products

If you think a product is dangerous, report it to the CCPC. Reports from consumers are how many marketplace products end up tested and recalled.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For authoritative guidance see the official bodies linked above, and always follow the instructions in the official recall notice.