Trading standards officers in Perth and Kinross were forced to act after Chinese lanterns contaminated with asbestos were discovered for sale.
Enforcement action was immediately taken against the retailer who has not been identified to remove the potentially harmful items from the shelves.
Officers then launched an extensive investigation into the lanterns, tracing their origins back to the wholesaler and finally the importer of the items.
In conjunction with other local authorities, action was then taken at a UK level to contact other retailers and ensure the items were taken off-sale nationally.
It is understood the items had not been produced in the UK, with the majority of lanterns imported still produced in China.
The lanterns date back centuries to when Chinese armies used them as signalling devices, but they have become increasingly popular worldwide at celebrations. They are a regular sight at weddings, birthdays, memorials to loved ones and other social gatherings in the UK and a host of sellers have set up business the length and breadth of the country to support increasing demand for the lanterns.
Trading standards say significant efforts have also been made to make the items safer and address concerns over their biodegradability and impact upon the environment. However, they say there are still low quality Chinese lanterns available on the market that should not be for sale.
Some contain substances such as asbestos. Though disease and significant illness are unlikely to result from a single high level exposure or from a short period of exposure to lower levels, trading standards officers are keen that any item contaminated with such substances are kept from public consumption.
Perth and Kinross trading standards officer Chris Jolly said: ”The lanterns were coated in a form of asbestos and appropriate enforcement action was taken immediately to prevent their sale to the public.
”There are many different types of asbestos but you do not want people to come into contact with any of them. The lanterns were found at a retail level and were taken off-sale nationally following their discovery in this area.”
Critics of Chinese lanterns say they can harm livestock and set fire to fields. They have also been the source of numerous reported UFO sightings.