More than 8m fake and harmful toys have been seized from shops and markets across the EU in a pre-Christmas crackdown, Europol has said.
hauls of fake dolls, building bricks, toy cars, colouring sets, cuddly toys that could pose fire hazards and educational games were removed across 26 countries.
The operation is the second in two years and brings the number of counterfeit toys seized by authorities to almost 17m, most of them from China. Europol, which coordinated the raids, said most of the toys seized “completely evaded the EU’s strict rules on products” intended for children.
They included fake toys “that can cause asphyxiation, suffocation, drowning, cuts, burns and exposure to chemical substances” in fabrics that are not legally compliant and “forever chemicals” that can be carcinogenic, the police authority said.
“Some pose choking hazards and could be ingested, while others may damage children’s hearing or sight,” it added.
Among the goods were card games, dolls, fidgeting toys, accessories, action figures, plastic construction toys and floating toys. The haul ranged from “fakes that are almost indistinguishable from the real products, to obvious fakes ripping off the known brands,” said a spokesperson.
Europol urged parents to be vigilant when it came to Christmas shopping and to restrict buying to trusted retailers online and on the high street.
Tell-tale signs can be the absence of safety labels and safety instructions in relation to the risk of fabrics catching on fire.
Shoppers should be notably wary of toys of characters from popular TV shows that are not sold in trusted shops, as these were popular choices for counterfeiters, said Europol in a lengthy report on the crackdown, called Operation Ludus.
Counterfeiters typically use low-quality batteries that carry a fire hazard, produce clothes for toddlers with draw-strings longer than EU standards that could cause trip hazards, and ribbons on clothing that carry a risk of strangulation.
EU Escalates Pressure on Shein Over “Systemic Risk” to Consumers
The European Commission is increasing scrutiny of the online retail platform Shein, expressing concerns that it may pose a “systemic risk” to consumers. This action follows the finding of illegal and dangerous items being sold on the marketplace and a large-scale inquiry led by Europol.
Europol’s Operation Ludus, conducted across 26 countries and spearheaded by investigators in France, Spain, and Romania, revealed that criminal networks are exploiting the demand for low-cost goods – not just luxury counterfeits – to generate profit. This includes items like fake designer goods, but also extends to potentially dangerous products. https://www.europol.europa.eu/
The agency highlighted that toys are frequently targeted due to their popularity and variety, and that online crime is on the rise.
Concerns about the safety of products sold by Shein and its competitor, Temu, were previously voiced by EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath this summer. He expressed shock at the toxicity and dangers present in some goods offered on the platforms, prompting a broader crackdown on these Chinese retail giants. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4128
With approximately 12 million low-value parcels entering the EU daily from retailers outside the bloc, Commissioner McGrath has pledged to aggressively address the sale of illegal goods. Specific examples cited include baby soothers containing detachable beads – posing a choking hazard due to non-compliant design – children’s raincoats with toxic chemicals, and sunglasses lacking UV protection. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-warns-shein-temu-over-product-safety-2023-07-19/
The European Commission is now demanding more data from Shein as part of its investigation into potential systemic risks. A recent report by MEPs further detailed the issues with products sold on the platform, reinforcing the need for increased oversight.