A major inspection by the Financial Police of Prato led to the seizure of 1,582 counterfeit toys attributable to the Walt Disney and Sanrio brands and the discovery of over 935 thousand items that did not comply with toy safety regulations.
The operation, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Prato, started from the investigations carried out by the Fiamme Gialle as part of economic controls in the territory and activities to combat illicit trafficking.
The investigations, also conducted through observations, stakeouts, shadowing and checks in databases, led the financiers to identify a storage and sales site in via Marzabotto, in Prato, attributable to a 42-year-old Chinese entrepreneur residing in the city.
Disney and Sanrio toys without CE marking documentation
Inside the commercial activity, the military found and seized 1,582 toys believed to be counterfeit, with distinctive signs attributable to Walt Disney and Sanrio.
According to what was reported by the Guardia di Finanza, the products also lacked the technical documentation necessary to demonstrate the legitimate affixing of the CE marking on the packages.
A particularly relevant aspect when talking about toys: the CE marking indicates that the manufacturer declares the conformity of the product to the requirements of European safety legislation.
Over 935 thousand toys without mandatory information
The checks did not stop at the seized products. The financiers also examined the other items displayed in the premises and stored in the warehouses, checking labels and documentation.
The investigations revealed irregularities on over 935,880 toys, which were found to lack the minimum mandatory information required by Legislative Decree 54/2011, which regulates the safety requirements of toys in Italy in implementation of the European Directive 2009/48/EC.
For these violations, the owner of the business will be reported to the competent offices for the initiation of administrative sanctioning procedures provided for by law.
Why toy safety matters
The case brings attention to an issue that directly concerns the protection of consumers and, above all, of children. Incomplete labels, lack of documentation and counterfeit products can in fact make it more difficult to verify the origin, composition and compliance of a toy with European standards.
When purchasing a product intended for children, it is therefore important to check the presence of the CE marking, information on the manufacturer or importer, instructions and any safety warnings, as well as being wary of items sold at unusually low prices or with unconvincing packaging and branding.
The Guardia di Finanza operation aims not only to combat counterfeiting, but also to protect the legal market and companies that respect the rules.
As required by law, the responsibility of the people involved must in any case be ascertained during the proceedings: the suspects are to be considered not guilty until a possible final sentence.
