Trading Standards issue warning over counterfeit toys
Hundreds of fake and potentially dangerous Labubu dolls have been seized by North Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards this week.
And the team plan on carrying out further checks over the coming weeks as they look to find more of the counterfeit items.
The cute-looking toy from the Pop Mart ‘Monsters’ series has become a must-have item for young people.
But its popularity and money-making potential has also seen fakes coming into Scotland – and now North Ayrshire.
There are safety issues with these counterfeits as they haven't passed the UK Toy Safety regulations and have small parts that could be a choking hazard.
The team visited two premises within Irvine town centre and seized/uncovered over 370 counterfeit Labubu products.
Quote: These counterfeits need to be stopped and we are delighted with the work being carried out by the Trading Standards team. We would urge any retailer selling any of these items to think again as we will be stepping up our efforts over the coming days. It might look like a good deal, but these dolls are usually really poor quality and made with inferior materials and are not made to last at all. Not only that, they could also cause a serious accident to young people. We would urge people to only buy from trusted retailers and if you have concerns, please get in touch with our Trading Standards team at North Ayrshire Council.
Quote from: Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Islands
Some of the signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours and an incorrect teeth count, with authentic Labubus having exactly nine.
Published: 08 July 2025