Unsafe fake Labubu dolls seized by Oldham Trading Standards

Oldham Council’s Trading Standards team has seized 104 counterfeit ‘Labubu’ dolls and accessories from local businesses, with a street value of between £800 and £1000.

The dolls, which copy the hugely popular figures made by Chinese company Pop Mart and are trending worldwide on social media platforms like TikTok, were being sold at a fraction of the normal price. If genuine, they would have been worth more than three times as much. 

But not only are the dolls fake – they are also unsafe. Officers raised serious concerns about the safety of the items, which were poorly made and could put children at risk. Small parts such as eyes, hands and feet broke off easily, creating a choking hazard.  

Many of the seized products had poor stitching, while others were missing legally required safety marks such as the CE or UKCA labels. They also lacked the name and address of a UK supplier, which is another clear legal requirement. 

Councillor Elaine Taylor, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “Oldham Trading Standards carries out regular checks to help keep unsafe products off the shelves. In this case, these counterfeit toys failed safety standards and have now been removed from sale. 

“We know it can be tempting to buy toys that look like a bargain, but parents need to be extra careful. Fake toys like these may be cheaper, but they can put children in real danger if they’re not made to strict safety standards. 

“If anyone has concerns about toys they’ve purchased, or if they see unsafe products on sale locally, we’d encourage them to get in touch with Trading Standards through the Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.” 

Oldham Trading Standards continues to inspect local businesses and remove unsafe items from sale. Traders who knowingly sell counterfeit or dangerous products may also face prosecution.