UK destroys counterfeit Labubu doll over phthalate and choking risk

A counterfeit Labubu doll seized from a UK retailer has been destroyed after authorities ruled it posed a serious chemical and choking risk to children, officials said. Tests found excess concentrations of phthalate chemicals in the plastic used for the doll's hands and feet, and parts were found to detach under forces below the regulatory minimum, creating small components that could be swallowed.

The product, described on packaging as Popmart Labubu Have a Seat The Monsters Doll, was identified as counterfeit during local enforcement checks and removed from sale. Inspectors also found the item lacked a QR code and did not display an importer name or address, key requirements under the Toys Safety Regulations 2011. Authorities said the toys were seized and destroyed to remove the risk to the public.

Home Office data cited by officials indicates that counterfeit versions of the popular Labubu doll are part of a wider problem. Fakes accounted for 90% of the £3.5 million worth of counterfeit toys seized at the UK border so far this year, highlighting the scale of unauthorised imports and the challenge for regulators and retailers in ensuring product safety.