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Seizures of nearly 8 million counterfeit products from a major Chinese toy maker have been reported worldwide since the beginning of the year through mid-August. Customs authorities across different countries confiscated these fake items, including over 260,000 in the Netherlands alone, with an additional 1.83 million intercepted by customs officials in China before they could be shipped abroad.
The company’s popular Labubu collectible dolls, which resemble elves, have garnered significant success, but this popularity has also led to a large counterfeit industry. To combat this issue, the company has registered its products for customs clearance in 27 countries and regions to help intercept fake goods.
The counterfeit toys are typically poorly manufactured, featuring inconsistent designs, and pose potential safety risks to children. Recently, authorities in the UK seized thousands of fake Labubu dolls, which were found to present hazards such as choking risks and exposure to toxic substances, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation report.
The company has provided customs agencies with multilingual anti-counterfeiting guides to help consumers distinguish genuine products from fakes. According to a company source, authentic items can be identified by an anti-counterfeiting sticker on the packaging or by specific production details, like the tie-dye process used.
Legal actions have also been stepped up. The company filed for an immediate court order in The Hague, allowing for a swift ruling without requiring the defendant’s presence. The court approved the request on the same day and issued a warning letter along with a written judgment to major Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo. Another retailer, Albert Heijn, was also reprimanded for selling counterfeit products.
Online sales channels have seen a surge in counterfeit goods trading. The company identified over 300 links promoting fake products across various international e-commerce platforms and has acted to freeze the accounts of the sellers involved.
The counterfeit dolls are often referred to as “Lafufu”—a play on words, as “fufu” is Chinese slang for fake. Due to high prices of legitimate versions, these fakes have become quite popular. In response, the company has applied to trademark the Lafufu name.
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