UK intercepts nearly 259k counterfeit toys, most Labubu, safety drive

Border agents have intercepted nearly 259,000 counterfeit toys at the UK border so far this year, and around 90 percent of those seized were imitation Labubu dolls, authorities said, prompting a national safety warning and a new public information campaign. The counterfeit toys, valued at about 3.5 million pounds, were found to pose chemical and choking risks, officials said.

Data published by the Intellectual Property Office and Home Office border figures show about 236,000 of the intercepted items were fake versions of Pop Mart"s Labubu collectibles, the toothy, furry figures that have become a viral trend among children and collectors. Expert testing of seized items found that roughly 75 percent failed basic safety checks, with banned chemicals linked to cancer detected in some samples and small parts that detach easily creating choking hazards, according to the IPO. Nearly half of people who reported buying counterfeits said they experienced problems, ranging from toys breaking almost instantly to unsafe labelling, strong chemical smells and even reports of illness in children.

Helen Barnham, deputy director of enforcement at the IPO, urged shoppers to exercise caution. With...