Council seizes more than 100 fake Labubu dolls from Elgin shops
Their popularity has led to a flood of cheap counterfeits being sold across the UK.
Last updated 1st Sep 2025
Fake toys which pose "serious safety risks to children" have been seized from shops in a Moray town.
More than 100 counterfeit Labubu dolls have been confiscated in Elgin.
The genuine toy, made by PopTart, has become a collector’s craze thanks to celebrity endorsements and viral social media posts.
Their popularity has led to a flood of cheap fakes being sold across the UK.
Moray Council are now warning the public about the dangers of the toys which haven't been vetted.
A statement from the local authority said: "These fake toys pose serious safety risks to children.
"They haven’t gone through proper safety testing and don’t meet UK toy safety standards. Officers found that many of the toys had small parts that could easily come off, especially the plastic hands and feet, which could cause choking.
"Some also had poor stitching and exposed stuffing, increasing the risk of suffocation.
"Some fake toys seized across the country have also been found to contain dangerous chemicals, posing a significant health risk."
Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, Cllr David Gordon added: “There are significant safety concerns associated with these fake toys.
"Toy Safety Regulations are there to protect children from the dangers associated with toys which haven’t been properly tested to ensure they are safe from risks like harmful chemicals and choking hazards.
"Shops who choose to ignore these risks and sell these types of unsafe toys can expect to have them seized.”
How to spot a fake Labubu
Moray Council’s Trading Standards team say they will continue to monitor local shops and take action against unsafe products.
For anyone wanting to buy a genuine Labubu, they're urging the public to look for the CE or UKCA safety mark on the label and check the packaging for the name and address of a UK or EU supplier.
They also say real Labubu dolls have a holographic Pop Mart sticker, a QR code linking to the official website, and a UV stamp on one foot.
The public should also be cautious of toys that are much cheaper than expected or look poorly made.
Anyone who thinks they’ve bought a fake or unsafe toy can contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.