NEATH Port Talbot Council trading standards officers are warning that suspected counterfeit versions of a popular brand of collectible toy ‘monster elves’ have been seized from a shop in the county borough.
The council’s Trading Standards Team is constantly on the lookout for counterfeit goods and products which flout safety legislation. In the case of toys, these could pose serious dangers for children.
The Labubu brand toy elves were seized from an undisclosed outlet in Neath Port Talbot and are currently being examined.
In the meantime, the Trading Standards Team is offering the following advice to consumers to ensure they stay ‘shopper safe’:
- Check goods and their packaging carefully. On toys there should be age warnings and safety symbols such as a CE or UKCA mark. Check for spelling mistakes or poor quality labelling; this usually gives the game away.
- Buy from reputable sellers, so you can return goods if a problem develops.
- Check the price. Be suspicious if it’s a lot cheaper than you would expect.
Cllr Cen Phillips, the council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said: “Due to the discovery of these suspected counterfeit toys we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant.
“If toys are found to be counterfeit they can potentially pose significant dangers to children, including the likes of exposure to certain chemicals and choking hazards due to small parts.”
Counterfeit toys often lack proper safety testing and the council encourages anyone concerned about the safety of toys to get in touch. Consumers can contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0800 223 1123 and traders can contact Trading Standards on (01639) 686877 [email protected].
Labubu is a brand of monster elves created by designer Kasing Lung and marketed by Chinese retailer Pop Mart. Labubu is also the name of the main character in the series.
