UK border authorities recently announced that Labubu dolls made up an incredible 90% of all counterfeit toys they’ve seized so far this year! This represented a total monetary value of £3.5 million. This dangerous development has posed an intolerable risk to child safety and product quality.
Labubu is unusual monster that was conceived in the mind of artist Kasing Lung. He shot to broadband fame after partnering with the toy store chain Pop Mart. While they were initially marketed as adult collectibles and fashion accessories, these dolls quickly gained popularity with a younger demographic by including children. Despite their attractiveness, considerable concern as to safety has emerged. Other Labubu dolls are marked on their packages for ages 15 and up. As always, read the label to make sure it’s appropriate for you!
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) commissioned a safety assessment on the counterfeit toys seized. What they found was that almost three quarters of the Labubu dolls flunked the safety tests. More than half of those confiscated dolls either had lead or other dangerous chemicals in them, or were a choking hazard. These results underscore the dangers of counterfeit toys, especially those intended for children.
Just in 2025, the IPO intercepted approximately 259,000 counterfeit toys. Of those, a mind-boggling 236,000 were fake Labubu dolls. Home Office data suggests that almost half of consumers who bought one of these counterfeit toys ended up having issues with them.
Helen Barnham, a representative from the Home Office, highlighted the importance of a joined-up approach to protect the public from these hazardous substances.
“These products have bypassed every safety check the law requires, which is why we’re working with our partners to keep these dangerous fakes out of UK homes.” – Helen Barnham
Barnham went on to stress the need to keep child safety at the forefront in light of these discoveries.
“Child safety must come first, so we’re urging parents – please don’t let your child be the tester.” – Helen Barnham
Today Labubu dolls are more popular than ever before. With the introduction of fake copies, there is now a significant threat with consumer safety and wellbeing at stake. Just as the IPO is on the frontlines of combating fake goods. Their mission is to protect consumers, especially kids, from hazardous, dangerous toys that are sold without any regulation.