Behind the lights, decorations and toys that fill shops and stalls during the Christmas period, a real health risk can be hidden. This is what emerges from the latest operation of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Crotone, which in recent days has seized over 16,000 Christmas items that do not comply with the safety standards required by European and national legislation.
The intervention is part of the extraordinary territorial control plan activated in view of the holidays, with the aim of protecting consumers in one of the periods of the year in which purchases increase and controls become more necessary than ever.
The inspections, conducted by the financiers of the Crotone Group in various commercial businesses in the province, led to the administrative seizure of stickers, stickers, Christmas decorations, toys, Christmas tree tips and light chains, for a total value estimated at over 30,000 euros.
All the products had the same problem in common: they did not comply with the Consumer Code. In many cases the CE mark was missing, in others fundamental information was absent such as the name of the manufacturer or importer, the country of origin, the description of the materials used and the indications in Italian.
What do you do when the CE mark is missing?
The absence of certifications and mandatory information is not a bureaucratic detail. It is often a sign of poor-quality or potentially toxic raw materials used to reduce production costs. Harmful dyes, untested plastics, unsafe electrical components: objects designed to decorate parties can turn into a danger, especially for children.
It is also a practice that fuels unfair competition, penalizing companies that respect the rules and invest in product safety.
In addition to the immediate withdrawal of the goods from the market, the owners of the businesses – very popular sales points due to the extensive Christmas offer – were charged with administrative violations, with overall fines exceeding 2,500 euros.
But the most significant data concerns the general picture: in 2025 alone, as part of its control activities in the area, the Crotone Financial Police Group seized around 400 thousand irregular items, for an estimated value exceeding 1 million euros.
The operation sends a clear message: the holiday season must not become a free zone for unsafe products. Decorations, lights and toys must respect precise rules, because they end up in homes, often in the hands of the little ones.
Checking labels, CE marking and mandatory information is not only a good practice, but an act of responsibility. Because a truly peaceful Christmas should never put your health at risk, nor turn into yet another opportunity for profit at the expense of safety.
