Consumer protection drives safety warnings for online shopping in Austria and Switzerland

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce for Lower Austria launched the “echt hier. echt sicher.” campaign to urge shoppers to buy from domestic online retailers, stressing that local sellers must meet EU safety standards and are legally accountable. Alexander Smuk said, “We want consumers to become aware that it makes a difference where they shop online.” The campaign highlights risks such as toxic clothing, heavy‑metal jewellery, formaldehyde in baby products and unsafe chargers sold by foreign platforms.

In Switzerland, consumer‑watch outlet Beobachter warned that the website Juwelierkeller.ch advertises cheap Chinese jewellery as handmade luxury pieces, but investigations found the “boutique” does not exist and the items are low‑cost fashion accessories. The alert advises shoppers to purchase gold and gemstones only from trusted, reputable stores.

Both initiatives aim to increase transparency, traceability and responsibility in the online market and to protect consumers from substandard or fraudulent products.