Trading Standards officers in Aberdeen have warned parents and businesses after counterfeit and potentially unsafe squishy toys were seized from shops in the city. The warning follows complaints from parents about strong chemical smells and toys bursting or leaking during play.
Parents in Aberdeen have been warned to check popular squishy toys after Trading Standards officers seized counterfeit and potentially unsafe versions from shops in the city.
Aberdeen City Council said complaints were made to Trading Standards by parents concerned that some toys had a strong chemical smell, while others had burst or leaked during play. Officers examined toys seized by the council’s Trading Standards team and found that some did not have the required safety labelling, including the details of a supplier in the UK or EU, while others were confirmed as counterfeit.
The warning comes as squishy toys continue to be promoted heavily through online trends, unboxing videos and social media clips. Their appeal is obvious enough. They are small, tactile, colourful and often inexpensive. But Trading Standards officers say products that have not been properly tested, labelled and supplied through legitimate routes can expose children to avoidable risks.
Graeme Paton, Trading Standards manager, said the discovery of counterfeit toys should make consumers and parents “extra vigilant”. He said counterfeit toys can appear to be a bargain, particularly when they copy much sought after items, but may be dangerous. Parents are being urged to buy only from reputable retailers, check packaging and report concerns through Consumer Advice Scotland.
Toy safety rules are not decorative paperwork. Under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, toys placed on the market in Great Britain must meet essential safety requirements. Businesses in the supply chain are expected to make sure products carry the appropriate conformity marking, such as UKCA or CE marking, and that required information, including the manufacturer or importer’s name and address, is present. The Government’s guidance says importers must verify that manufacturers have applied relevant identifying information and conformity marking, and must also ensure their own name and address is applied to the toy, packaging or accompanying document.
Business Companion guidance for Trading Standards and businesses states that toys supplied by businesses should be marked with the name and address of the manufacturer, or the manufacturer and importer if the manufacturer is outside the UK, as well as a type, batch, serial or model number and the CE or UKCA mark. Those marks are a manufacturer’s declaration that the toy meets safety requirements.
The absence of proper labelling does not prove by itself that a toy will harm a child. But it removes one of the basic signs that the product has passed through the required safety process. In a market driven by fast online trends, low prices and imitation products, that absence should be treated seriously.
Aberdeen City Council said products submitted for testing by Trading Standards across the country had produced results raising concern about microbiological contamination and higher levels of substances recognised as hazardous. Counterfeit versions of popular toys can also create risks because their appearance may mimic legitimate products while avoiding the testing, traceability and accountability expected of lawful suppliers.
The council’s advice to consumers is practical. Parents should check packaging carefully for UKCA or CE marking and the name and address of a supplier in the UK or EU. They should buy from reputable sellers, be suspicious of prices that seem unusually low, and trust their senses where a toy has a strong chemical smell.
Businesses are also being warned to make proper checks before stocking fast moving trend products. A toy becoming popular online does not remove a trader’s responsibility to ensure that goods meet legal safety requirements. Retailers who are unsure are being asked to contact Trading Standards for advice.
Consumers can report counterfeit or unsafe products through Consumer Advice Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or at consumeradvice.scot/contact. Traders can contact Aberdeen City Council Trading Standards at tradingstandards@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
SOURCES
Aberdeen City Council, “Trading standards warning for squishy toys”, published 5 June 2026.
https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news/trading-standards-warning-for-squishy-toys
UK Government, “Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011: Great Britain”.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/toys-safety-regulations-2011/toys-safety-regulations-2011-great-britain
Business Companion, “Toys”, product safety guidance.
https://www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/product-safety/toys
Consumer Advice Scotland.
https://consumeradvice.scot/
Consumer Advice Scotland contact page.
https://consumeradvice.scot/contact/
