Nearly 11 million counterfeit toys bought on-line seized in 2025, customs involved about “a direct risk to child safety” | EUROtoday

French customs seized almost 11 million counterfeit toys bought on-line in 2025, nearly all of which “presented significant risks to the health and safety of consumers”introduced the customs providers on Thursday, December 18.

These counterfeits, significantly harmful for youngsters, have been noticed throughout “online checks” and of “sample collection”. “Following these expertises” carried out by toy manufacturers to detect counterfeits, “customs were able to seize a total of 10,384,374 toys throughout the national territory”customs mentioned in a press launch.

Customs providers then reported their findings to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). “which opened a coordinated investigation on a European scale”.

After a number of months of investigations by French and Czech customs, “millions of suspicious advertisements were spotted and the corresponding goods quickly removed from sale”continues the press launch. Images revealed by customs present plastic collectible figurines, stuffed animals and even stickers of characters from the universe Disney amongst these counterfeits.

Risk to little one security

“Counterfeit toys are not just an infringement of intellectual property – they represent a direct risk to children’s safety”underlined Salla Saastamoinen, interim director common of OLAF, quoted within the press launch.

“The platforms have temporarily withdrawn identical goods from the market on a European scale”pending processing of requests for worldwide cooperation, provides the press launch.

In 2024, French customs had seized 5.6 million counterfeit toys and video games, out of almost 21 million counterfeits. At the start of September, customs providers had notably acquired their palms on some 56,000 toys copied within the Paris area, together with a number of thousand pretend Labubu plush toys, these small Chinese collectible figurines which have develop into trendy this summer time.