In the United Kingdom, about 260,000 counterfeit toys were confiscated by 2025, and 90% of the seized items were imitations of Labubu dolls. Which, for many it is just an economic problem, is also a risk to the health of children, leading the British government to alert in the country.
Authorities warn that 75% of confiscated toys that did not pass the safety checks contained forbidden chemicals and had asphyxiation risks.
Helen Barnham, deputy director of inspection at the country’s intellectual property office, warned: “With counterfeit toys, what you rarely see is what you get. Behind the packaging may be hidden asphyxiation risk, toxic chemicals and defective pieces that put the kids in danger.”
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The campaign “Fake Toys, Real Damage” campaign was created to raise awareness of current parents and buyers about the hidden damage associated with counterfeits.
“Children’s security should come first, so we ask parents: Please don’t let your child be the tester,” says Helen Barnham
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The campaign says: “counterfeit toys do not announce their ‘special resources’, but if they announced, the packaging could be something like this:
- Paint with carcinogens chemicals
- Filling that can cause wheezing
- Dangerous batteries for maximum surprise
- Loose parts and sharp edges for unexpected injuries
- Collectable cuteness… with eyes that fall.
In Brazil, there is no unique data about the amount of counterfeit toys seized. However, in a single operation of the IRS, in 2022, in the port of Santos (SP), about 60 tons of counterfeit toys were collected, giving an idea of the size of the problem.
