New Intellectual Property Office (IPO) campaign warns buyers of major health and safety risks

Key developments this year include:

• 259,00 fake toys worth over £3.5m have been seized at the UK border so far this year. This is equivalent to 24 tonnes of goods. 90% of these were counterfeit Labubu dolls seized before they could reach UK consumers.
• 75% of seized counterfeit toys fail safety tests with banned chemical and choking hazards found, whist 46% of those purchasing them experienced serious safety issues.

The campaign titled ‘Fake Toys, Real Harms’ is highlighting the dangers identified by expert testing of the goods seized. These include counterfeit toys containing banned chemicals linked to cancer, dangerous choking hazards and other serious risks.

The IPO have provided guidance on how to avoid counterfeit toys. Before you buy, you should consider:

• Sticking to trusted retailers or official brand websites. Be cautious of third-party sellers on marketplaces.
• Checking reviews carefully, look beyond the five star ones.
• Being wary of prices that look ‘too good to be true’ counterfeits tend to be much cheaper.
• Making sure that the toy has not been recalled by searching the brand and product name.

When the toy arrives:

• Look for a UKCA or CE safety mark and a UK contact address on the packaging .
• Check the packaging looks professional and includes age warnings.
• Inspect the toys: no loose small parts, stuffing or unsecured batteries.