£55,000 worth of ‘fake and unsafe’ toys have been seized from wholesalers and retailers across Salford.
As part of the Intellectual Property Office’s ‘Fake Toys, Real Harms’ campaign, 4,600 counterfeit toys which could have left children exposed to unsafe, poor-quality materials have been recovered in the last month.
The campaign, which launched last week, intends to highlight the dangers posed by counterfeit toys such as toxic chemicals, sharp edges, choking hazards and unsafe stuffing.
Unsafe copies across almost every type of toy were uncovered by Trading Standards Officers at Salford City Council, including action figures with paint laced with harmful chemicals, electronic toys with wires sticking out, and plushies filled with stuffing that can trigger breathing problems.
Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety said: “We will not hesitate to take action when businesses are flouting the law and putting people at risk.
“Anyone buying toys for children must take care where they shop and check items carefully. If the price is too good to be true, then the product could be counterfeit and it could be dangerous.”
According to data published by the Home Office, over £3.5m worth of counterfeit toys have been seized at the border so far this year. 75% of these failed critical safety tests, with 46% of the people who bought them experiencing serious safety issues.
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group is a UK-based not-for-profit trade association fighting the trade of counterfeit goods. It encourages Salford shoppers to be ‘cautious’ when buying toys, reviewing the price, packaging, build quality and instincts before choosing to purchase goods.
If you suspect a toy is counterfeit, report it to the market place and to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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