A fancy dress business has been asked to pay almost £10,000 in fines and charges after its owner pleaded guilty to possessing and selling unsafe and counterfeit children’s costumes. The prosecution comes following enforcement action by Brent Council.
Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Zorro were among the rip-off character costumes Euro Accessories (UK) Limited and its owner Farid Ayubi sold for £9.99 each. Flammability and strangulation tests found the costumes did not meet the legal safety levels required and posed a serious danger to children.
All children’s costumes are classed as toys and must meet strict safety standards in order to be sold.
The business and Ayubi were sentenced at Willesden Magistrates Court on July 4th 2019 after the Council’s trading standards officers seized more than 200 costumes from the business. Euro Accessories was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,666 in costs. Ayubi was also personally fined £500.
Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen stories of kids suffering horrendous burns because their fancy dress fail to meet basic standards. Cheap imported costumes might look like a bargain from the price tag, but what they don’t list are the serious dangers that come with buying untested counterfeits.
“If the safety of children isn’t motivation enough, I hope that this hefty fine at least sets an example to other organisations considering selling fake and unsafe goods. We want Brent to be a place where businesses thrive, but, be in no doubt, we will take action against traders who try and cut corners selling substandard goods to enhance their profits.”
