North Tyneside Trading Standards is warning parents and businesses about serious safety risks linked to counterfeit Labubu dolls.
The alert follows the seizure of more than 2,000 fake dolls from over 13 retailers across the borough in the past three weeks.
The counterfeit toys have been found to breach both the Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011 and the Trade Marks Act 1994, raising concerns about child safety.
The imitation dolls, which mimic the popular soft plush Labubu collectables, contain small parts that easily detach, posing a serious choking hazard to young children and failing to meet essential toy safety legislation.
Traders have received formal written warnings and may face prosecution if offences continue.
Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Climate Emergency said, “We’ve seen a worrying rise in counterfeit Labubu dolls being sold locally. These products, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their low price and wide availability, do not meet UK toy safety regulations and could be dangerous, particularly for young children. We urge parents to report any suspicious items to our Trading Standards team.”
Counterfeit Labubu toys can be identified by their poor quality, including wobbly limbs, overly vibrant colouring and incorrect features such as the wrong number of teeth. Genuine Labubu dolls have nine sharp, triangular teeth and higher-quality fur and finish.
Anyone who suspects a retailer is selling counterfeit Labubu dolls or other unsafe toys is encouraged to report it to North Tyneside Trading Standards by emailing trading.standards@northtyneside.gov.uk.