About 90,000 illegal and unsafe condoms were seized in the UK during the past two years, new figures show.
According to reports the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized the contraceptives in 2018 and 2019.
They were found to have passed their expiry date, not been safety tested for the EU market or did not meet laws regarding the display of safety symbols.
About 87,500 of the condoms were from a single raid carried out by UK Border Force officials in 2018.
Health experts have urged people to check packaging carefully before buying contraception, as products sold illegally could potentially fail to protect against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
The products seized were found to be in breach of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002. In 2018, unsafe condoms were the most common product seized by the MHRA, followed by needles and in vitro diagnostic devices.
Prof Mahendra Patel, an honorary visiting professor in pharmacy from the University of Bradford, said consumers should ensure they are obtaining contraceptives from registered chemists and pharmacies, sexual health clinics and GP surgeries.
