LONDON: More than 100 fake Labubu dolls have been seized by authorities in Moray, northern Scotland, due to “significant safety concerns,” reported PA Media/dpa.
The toys are copies of the dolls made by Pop Mart, which have become increasingly popular in recent years but are expensive, leading to a flood of counterfeits on the market.
Moray Council’s Trading Standards team confiscated the toys from shops in Elgin town centre in Moray and warned that the counterfeit products could endanger children.
They found that many of the toys had small parts that could easily come off, posing a choking hazard, while some had poor stitching and exposed stuffing, increasing the risk of suffocation.
Other fake toys seized around the country have been found to contain dangerous chemicals.
Councillor David Gordon, chairman of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, said:
“There are significant safety concerns associated with these fake toys.
Toy Safety Regulations are there to protect children from the dangers associated with toys which haven’t been properly tested to ensure they are safe from risks like harmful chemicals and choking hazards.
“Shops that choose to ignore these risks and sell these types of unsafe toys can expect to have them seized.”
Trading Standards officers said that genuine Labubu dolls have a holographic Pop Mart sticker, a QR code linking to the official website, and a UV stamp on one foot.
They urged buyers to be wary of toys sold at unusually low prices or with poor workmanship, and to check for the CE or UKCA safety mark on the label.
Consumers purchasing toys are also encouraged to check the packaging for the name and address of a UK or EU supplier.
Labubu dolls became a global collecting phenomenon when Chinese retailer Pop Mart introduced them as collectable “blind box” toys, leading to viral trends, high demand, and even luxury auction sales. – BERNAMA-PA Media/dpa
