Erbil bans Labubu dolls, citing impact to children and ‘blind box’ model

ERBIL — Authorities in Erbil have banned the sale of Labubu figurines, citing deceptive marketing practices and concerns about their psychological impact on children. The move comes amid a broader campaign to remove the globally popular toy from local shops.

“The Labubu figurine is now banned, and anyone who sells it will face legal consequences,” said Hogir Ali, director of commercial monitoring in Erbil. He told 964media that more than 4,000 units have been confiscated so far. “Enforcement will be harsh, and whatever we seize will be destroyed.”

Labubu, a furry toy with sharp teeth and a mix of cute and creepy features, has gained global popularity through the “blind box” model, where buyers don’t know which variant of the figurine they’ll receive. Critics say the model encourages compulsive purchasing, especially among children.

Ali said the campaign began two days ago and is ongoing. “Parents have bought several at once for their children, which is causing harm. That’s why we decided to ban it,” he said. “We call on shopkeepers who have Labubu figurines to return them to the place they were bought from.”

He also described the sale of multiple figures to obtain specific designs as deceptive. “Selling Labubu in a way that encourages buying multiple figures at once to find a desired design is considered deceptive,” he said.

Labubu is one of the signature characters from Chinese company Pop Mart, led by 38-year-old Wang Ning. The firm has built a multi-billion dollar global market around collectible toys, driven largely by blind-box sales and social media appeal.

While Erbil has cracked down on sales, demand for Labubu remains high in Sulaymaniyah. “No matter how many I bring in, they’re gone by evening,” one local vendor told 964media. “People of all ages are buying them.”

Hiwa Mohammed, another shopkeeper, said the figurine has become a collector’s item. “Labubu isn’t just a toy anymore — it’s something people fight over. We brought in a large batch this morning, and it sold out before noon.”

Some customers, he added, are buying Labubu figurines in bulk and shipping them to Europe, where they can fetch a higher price. “Here, it sells for 10,000 dinars — about $7.14 — per piece,” he said.

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