Swedish Customs Destroy Record Half a Million Dangerous Toys in 2025

In 2025, Swedish customs set a grim record by intercepting and destroying 500,000 dangerous products, predominantly toys posing serious risks to children. This year's inspections covered 1.7 million articles entering Sweden, with nearly 800,000 items seized due to safety concerns. The scale of destruction reflects increasing vigilance amid rising imports of hazardous counterfeit goods.

The majority of confiscated items were toys, including stuffed animals and children's lamps. Among the most problematic are pirated versions of the Chinese doll Labubu, notorious for containing toxic substances. These counterfeit products often lack proper safety oversight, heightening risks such as choking hazards and long-term health impacts including potential fertility effects. Emergency equipment like radios, stemming from the influx of substandard imports linked to the Ukraine war, and counterfeit elevator parts have also raised concern due to their failure risks in critical situations.

Sukhwinder Kaur, an investigator with the Swedish Customs Agency, highlighted that while their capacity to stop dangerous goods is improving, the surging volumes are alarming and demand continued attention. Business and safety expert Per Holgersson underscored the environmental harm caused by excessive cheap pirated imports, as well as the consumer dangers posed by unsafe counterfeit products that lack proper quality and safety oversight.

This record destruction emphasizes Sweden's commitment to protecting consumer safety and public health from the growing threat of hazardous counterfeit imports. Authorities continue to enforce strict inspections and destruction policies to mitigate the risks such products present to children and the environment.

As imports rise amid global conflicts and trading disruptions, Swedish customs remain vigilant against unsafe goods, ensuring that dangerous toys and other hazardous items do not reach consumers.