A significant quantity of counterfeit and unsafe toys has been seized from a trader at Barking Market after a Trading Standards operation on Monday 16 March.

Officers acted on intelligence provided by Market Officers and visited the stall, where they removed a range of illegal products including Spiderman cuddly toys, Stitch dance toys, Spiderman dance toys, Pikachu dance toys, Mickey Mouse dance robots, Frozen dance robots, Nemo fish machines, K‑pop dolls, and Pokémon cards.

Initial checks revealed that several items failed to provide the legally required name and address of a UK importer, information essential for tracing products in the event of a safety concern. Without this, dangerous or non-compliant items cannot be effectively tracked or recalled - posing risks to consumers, particularly children.

Market traders are reminded of their responsibility to carry out proper safety checks, verify suppliers, and ensure goods meet UK compliance standards. Traders can check trademarks through the UK Intellectual Property Office: www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark.

The trader involved is now under investigation, and formal enforcement action is being considered by Trading Standards.

Residents with concerns about a trader operating in the borough can contact Trading Standards at: tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.