Fake Labubu dolls accounted for 90% of counterfeit toys seized at the UK border this year, with border officials intercepting almost 259,000 counterfeit toys worth more than £3.5m, including 236,000 fake versions of Pop Mart’s fluffy figures.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) reported that 75% of the seized toys failed safety tests, with banned chemicals and choking hazards found, while 46% of people who bought them experienced serious safety issues. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute said the counterfeit Labubu dolls contain small detachable parts such as eyes, hands and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children.
Labubu dolls have become hugely popular among children and adults after going viral on social media, with celebrities including Rihanna favouring them. Many owners attach the dolls to handbags or backpacks, creating a hidden market for cheap imitations.
Helen Barnham, deputy director of enforcement at the IPO, said: "With counterfeit toys, what you see is rarely what you get. Behind the packaging can be hidden choking hazards, toxic chemicals and faulty parts that put children in real danger." The IPO’s new campaign, with toy retailers, local authorities and social media influencers, aims to warn parents about the dangers.
Beth Turbutt-Rogers, a parenting influencer, said: "As a parent you just want the peace of mind that the toys you buy are safe for your children. What looks like a bargain can turn out to be something unsafe or even dangerous." She added that buying online makes it harder to spot fakes. Consumers can reduce risk by sticking to trusted retailers, checking reviews carefully, and being wary of prices that seem too good to be true. They should look for UKCA or CE marks, a UK contact address, and professional packaging, and report unsafe toys to Trading Standards.
