Trading Standards warn parents over influx of 'truly dangerous' fake Frozen merchandise
AN influx of "truly dangerous" counterfeit merchandise featuring hit Disney film Frozen has sparked a warning for Christmas shoppers.
Fake Frozen goods are among the most frequent seizures made at British ports as unscrupulous traders try to make money out of parents desperate to buy their children extra-special gifts for Christmas.
These have been judged especially dangerous because poorly-made plastics could contain cancer-causing chemicals or be highly flammable, as well as presenting choking hazards.
Gavin Terry, joint lead officer for intellectual property at the Trading Standards Institute, said: "Counterfeit goods may seem like a bargain but they can be truly dangerous.
"Often untested, poorly made and untraceable, counterfeit Frozen toys could be poisonous, pose a choking hazard or be made of highly flammable material.
"Some seized counterfeit Frozen toys have had a stylised logo designed to appear similar to, or pass off as, a Disney-branded product.
"Shoppers should look closely at the product to make sure it is legitimate.
"To avoid fake goods this Christmas, consumers should follow the four Ps: product, place, price, packaging.
"If any of these are off it is safest to walk away."
Frozen trailer
To avoid fake goods this Christmas, consumers should follow the four Ps: product, place, price, packaging
The warning follows a number of concerning incidents regarding counterfeit Frozen toys and merchandise.
Some 1,960 fake toys were seized at the Port of Dover in Kent including 426 bogus versions of dolls from Disney's smash hit.
The imitation items, which were confirmed by Disney as counterfeit, were made in China and included copies of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna dolls.
Kent County Council trading standards manager Mark Rolfe said it marked one of the biggest hauls ever confiscated.
Last month parents in Nottinghamshire were also warned about "lethal" knock-off Frozen children's bracelets which could slash youngsters' wrists.
The "dangerous" bracelets were discovered when a suspicious mother cut one open and found that they were made from a metal measuring tape.
