The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued an urgent warning about the escalating sale of fake Labubu dolls in the UK, raising concerns over the serious dangers to children.
The popularity in the viral plush toy - made by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart - has fuelled a surge in fakes, with many being unlawfully sold in local shops and by third-party sellers via online marketplaces, said CTSI.
Trading Standards teams across the UK have seized thousands of unsafe counterfeit Labubu dolls in recent weeks.
In just one month, over 2,000 were confiscated from 13 retailers in North Tyneside, with further seizures in Greater Manchester, Humberside, North Somerset and Scotland.
Many of these items were discovered after tip-offs from concerned parents.
CTSI said counterfeit Labubus are poorly made and unsafe: “Many contain small, detachable parts such as eyes, hands, and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children. Loose stitching and exposed stuffing further increase the risk of suffocation.”
These fakes often breach the UK’s Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, lacking CE or UKCA safety markings, importer details and required safety warnings, it added.
Without proper safety checks, counterfeits may also contain toxic substances such as lead, harmful dyes or banned plasticisers.
Genuine Pop Mart Labubu dolls have a distinctive elf-like design and include authenticity features such as a holographic POP MART sticker, a scannable QR code linking to the official Pop Mart website, and - on newer editions - a subtle UV stamp on one foot.
Signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours and an incorrect teeth count, with authentic Labubus having nine. These markers are commonly missing or poorly replicated on counterfeit versions, said CTSI.
Kerry Nicol, external affairs manager at CTSI, said: “Supply and demand means that legitimate Labubu dolls are almost impossible to find. Parents understandably want to be able to get their hands on these toys for their children and rightly expect the toys they buy to be safe, but dangerous counterfeits are finding their way into the market, often being sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces and from shops on the highstreet that have no regard for the safety of their customers.”
Christine Heemskerk, CTSI lead officer for product safety said fake dolls are poorly made in unsafe manufacturing premises: “A fake Labubu doll might contain hazardous chemicals in the plastic which can cause lifetime damage to a child’s organs. Small parts such as eyes could easily detach posing a serious choking hazard for small children. Beware of putting your child at risk by buying cheap unsafe fakes.”
Jerry Burnie, head of toy safety at British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), commented: “Counterfeit toys are a significant risk as they are unlikely to meet the strict toy safety standards required of the legitimate toy maker.
“When shopping for branded items we would always recommend researching the toy brand and try to buy from the company directly or through a reputable retailer who you can easily return the product to. If you are buying online, particularly through an online marketplace, then include the name of the toy company in the search and compare the listing against the toy company’s own website.”
CTSI is targeting counterfeit goods as part of a wider campaign as the manufacturing and sale of these products are often linked to wider organised crime groups, it added.
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