An exhibition featuring Labubu is held in Beijing on June 18 , 2025. Photo: VCG
In the first half of 2025, China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) intensified crackdown on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations while supporting innovation, seizing 11,000 batches of suspected counterfeit goods totaling 38.68 million items — including fake versions of the increasingly popular “Labubu” figures, according to data released at a press conference on Monday.
At the press conference in Beijing, GAC deputy administrator Wang Lingjun noted that a key indicator of authenticity lies in the figure’s teeth — genuine Labubu toys feature nine sharp teeth, while counterfeits often have one or two fewer due to mold inaccuracies.
A series of posts titled “Customs vs. Fake Labubu,” published by the GAC on its WeChat account, quickly went viral — drawing widespread public attention to one of the agency’s core responsibilities: enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) protection at the borders.
Labubu, a character created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and inspired by a mythical creature from the forests of northern Europe, has recently achieved cult status among consumers both in China and abroad.
The Labubu series launched by POP Mart has been in particularly high demand, with products flying off the shelves at both physical stores and online platforms alike.
Recently, Shanghai Customs seized more than 5,000 fake Labubu blind box figures bearing the “POP MART” trademark, according to an official statement posted on the agency’s WeChat account.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Haicang Customs under Xiamen Customs in East China’s Fujian Province seized a total of 37,000 plastic products suspected of intellectual property infringement, bearing unauthorized “Labubu” and “Minions” designs.
The mandate, based on Articles 44 and 91 of China’s Customs Law, authorizes customs authorities to take proactive enforcement actions or respond to rights holders’ requests to inspect and detain suspected infringing goods during import and export procedures, with the aim of combating IPR violations and fostering innovation, according to GAC.
Labubu’s growing popularity offers a glimpse into the broader global rise of Chinese designer toys.
China exported dolls and animal toys worth 13.31 billion yuan (approximately $1.85 billion) in the first four months of this year, representing a 9.6 percent year-on-year increase, the customs said on Monday.
Global Times