Shoppers in Swansea are being urged to be on their guard this Christmas when buying gifts for family and friends.
The advice follows a recent visit to a temporary pop-up shop in the city centre by the Council’s Trading Standards team, where more than a third of the shops stock was seized, including a wide range of toys, electrical items and perfumes.
Trading standards have raised concerns over the potential dangers of many of the items, such as choking risks linked to small toys, as well as wider licensing concerns with fake goods.
The team are now in the process testing many of the thousands of items confiscated to assess their risks to consumers.
One concerning item removed was a toy gun gift set which included loud bang ammunition. Further investigations of the item have led to the discovery the toy gun set has been banned throughout Europe because of the loudness of the gun sound and the associated risks to children’s hearing. The gun also emits sparks when fired and could risk causing harm to children’s eyesight.
Other items seized included large quantities of keyrings, featuring small elements which were considered unsafe because of risks of choking if placed in a child’s mouth.
Rhys Harries, the Council’s lead Trading Standards officer, said: “This time of year, we tend to see more of these pop-up stores appearing where cheap gifts are being offered.
“We understand families are looking for bargains over Christmas and these shops can be very popular.
“Our concern is that many of these goods on offer have not passed proper safety tests, which is something we look for when assessing goods for sale, particularly when the goods are targeted toward small children.
“In this latest case, we immediately identified lots of items that were of concern to us and so we have taken action to seize them and protect consumers.”
David Hopkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and Performance, said: “It’s reassuring to know our Trading Standards Team is continuing to be vigilant in relation to the sale of goods within our city.
“Consumers have a right to be protected from businesses who are intent on selling low quality and potentially dangerous goods.
“While some things on offer may appear to be a good deal, shoppers should ask why they are so cheap and if they are risking putting themselves or their family at risk.”
