In 2025, the British Safety Industry Federation tested 88 PPE products from suppliers outside its Registered Safety Supplier scheme. 82% failed safety and compliance checks. Among respiratory protective equipment specifically, 84% had filters that did not filter effectively.
That's not a typo. If you buy a respirator from an unvetted supplier, there's roughly a 4-in-5 chance it won't actually protect you.
The counterfeit mask problem exploded during COVID — 3M alone seized almost 60 million fake masks between 2020 and 2023 — but it hasn't gone away. If anything, the flood of cheap masks on Amazon, eBay, and TikTok Shop has made it harder to tell genuine from fake. Here's how to protect yourself.
The Scale of the Problem in the UK
The numbers are sobering:
- 6.5 million sub-standard face masks seized at Heathrow Airport by Trading Standards
- 25 million items claiming to be FFP3 respirators prevented from entering the UK supply chain by the HSE
- 1.5 million KN95 masks quarantined by the HSE
- 700,000 suspect masks detained at East Midlands Airport by OPSS in a single operation
- 60% of KN95 masks tested by the US CDC failed to meet the standards they claimed
The UK government's Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) takes what they describe as a "zero-tolerance approach" to suppliers of unsafe PPE with fake certification. But enforcement can only catch what comes through official channels. Masks bought directly from marketplace sellers often bypass these checks entirely.
What a Genuine FFP2/FFP3 Mask Must Have
Every legitimate FFP2 or FFP3 respirator sold in the UK must carry specific markings. If any of these are missing, the mask is either counterfeit or non-compliant — either way, you can't trust it to protect you.
The Five Required Markings
- CE mark with a four-digit Notified Body number — e.g., CE 0086 (BSI), CE 0121 (SGS), CE 0598 (SGS Fimko). The number identifies the independent testing laboratory that certified the mask. You can verify any Notified Body number on the European Commission's NANDO database.
- The FFP protection level — FFP1, FFP2, or FFP3, clearly printed on the mask itself (not just the packaging)
- Reference to EN 149:2001+A1:2009 — This is the European standard for filtering facepiece respirators. The full reference should appear on the mask
- Manufacturer name or trademark — e.g., "3M" or the company logo
- Product or article number — e.g., "9332+" or "Aura 9320+"
Post-Brexit note: CE marking remains valid for sale in Great Britain. The UK government confirmed in 2024 that CE-marked PPE can continue to be sold in the UK without needing a separate UKCA mark. So both CE and UKCA markings are acceptable.
What Should Be Available on Request
- Declaration of Conformity — a document from the manufacturer confirming the product meets EN 149 requirements. Any reputable supplier will provide this on request.
- EU Type Examination Certificate — issued by the Notified Body confirming they tested the mask. The certificate number should be traceable.
How to Spot a Fake: Red Flags
On the Mask Itself
- Missing or incomplete markings — If the mask doesn't have all five markings listed above printed directly on it, walk away
- Poor print quality — Genuine masks have clean, crisp printing. Counterfeits often show blurred text, inconsistent fonts, or misspellings
- Wrong CE mark spacing — On genuine products, the C and E in the CE mark have specific proportional spacing. On fakes, the letters are often too close together or the wrong size
- Thin or flimsy material — Genuine FFP2/FFP3 masks have multiple filter layers and feel substantial. If a mask feels like a single layer of fabric, it's not a real respirator
- Ear loops on an "FFP2" — Most genuine FFP2/FFP3 masks use headband straps (over the head and behind the neck), not ear loops. While some legitimate FFP2 masks do use ear loops, it's less common and worth checking the certification carefully
On the Packaging
- No box or proper packaging — Genuine respirators come in sealed boxes with user instructions. Loose masks in ziplock bags are a red flag. 3M specifically states that neither they nor their authorised distributors sell respirators as loose individual units.
- Missing or photocopied documentation — Real masks come with user instructions and reference the Declaration of Conformity. Counterfeits often skip these entirely or include poor photocopies
- "KN95" labelling — KN95 is a Chinese standard. These masks are not legally compliant for sale as PPE in the UK. The HSE has issued explicit warnings about this. If a mask says KN95, it has not been tested to EN 149 by a European Notified Body
From the Seller
- Price too good to be true — A genuine 3M Aura 9332+ costs around £2-7 per mask depending on quantity. If someone is selling them for 50p each, they're almost certainly fake
- Sold on Amazon, eBay, or TikTok Shop by an unknown seller — 3M has actually banned its dealers from selling 3M products on Amazon and eBay. If you see 3M masks on these platforms, they're likely not from an authorised source
- No business address or returns policy — Legitimate PPE suppliers have physical addresses, customer service, and clear returns policies
- Unable to provide a Declaration of Conformity — If the seller can't provide documentation proving the mask meets EN 149, don't buy it
The KN95 Problem
KN95 masks deserve special attention because they're still widely sold in the UK despite being non-compliant.
KN95 is a Chinese standard (GB2626-2019). Unlike FFP2 certification, which requires independent testing by a Notified Body, KN95 is self-declared by the manufacturer with no independent oversight. The results speak for themselves:
- 60% of KN95 masks tested by the CDC failed to meet the standards they claimed
- At peak pandemic demand, up to 70% of Chinese-made KN95s failed testing
- KN95 masks showed a filtration efficiency standard deviation of 33.63% — compared to just 0.51% for FFP2 masks
- The HSE received approximately 90% of its PPE concerns and queries about KN95 masks
That 0.51% standard deviation for FFP2 is the key number. It means that FFP2 masks from certified sources are extraordinarily consistent — they perform almost identically mask to mask. KN95 is a lottery.
The HSE's position is clear: KN95 masks are not legally compliant as PPE in the UK. If you're buying KN95 masks for workplace protection, you're breaking the law and potentially putting people at risk.
The Most Counterfeited Masks
3M is the most counterfeited respirator brand in the world, for the simple reason that they're the most recognised. The most commonly faked models include:
- 3M Aura 9332+ (FFP3) — The UK's most popular FFP3 mask, and a prime target for counterfeiters. 3M has issued a specific counterfeit communication letter for this model.
- 3M Aura 9330+ (FFP3) — The unvalved version, also specifically flagged by 3M
- 3M Aura 9320+ (FFP2) — Widely counterfeited in European markets
- 3M 8210 (N95) — The most counterfeited respirator globally, though primarily a US model
How to Verify 3M Masks
3M offers a Safe Guard authentication system for some models. Look for a 10-digit secure code and 6-digit lot code on the box, then verify at 3M's Safe Guard website or via the 3M Safe Guard mobile app. A green checkmark means genuine; yellow or red means potentially counterfeit.
In 2024, 3M also launched the 3M Verify app for broader product authentication.
Important limitation: The popular 3M 9332+ Aura does not currently have digital verification codes. For this model, your best defence is buying from authorised resellers and inspecting the physical markings carefully.
How to Buy Safely
Here's the practical checklist for buying genuine masks in the UK:
- Buy from BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers — The British Safety Industry Federation runs a Registered Safety Supplier scheme. PPE from registered suppliers showed a 96% compliance rate in 2025 testing, compared to just 18% from non-registered sources. You can search for registered suppliers at bsif.co.uk.
- Use price comparison sites — Sites like ours compare prices across established UK suppliers who stock genuine products. Every supplier we list is a real UK business with a track record of selling legitimate PPE. See our verified suppliers.
- Check all five markings — When the mask arrives, verify all five required markings are present on the mask itself (not just the box)
- Verify the Notified Body number — Look up the four-digit number after CE on the NANDO database. Common legitimate numbers include 0086 (BSI), 0121 (SGS United Kingdom), and 0598 (SGS Fimko)
- Request documentation — Ask for the Declaration of Conformity if you're buying in bulk for a workplace. Any legitimate supplier will provide this
- Avoid marketplace sellers you can't verify — Amazon, eBay, and TikTok Shop can be fine for many products, but for safety-critical PPE, buy from specialist suppliers
What Happens if You Use a Fake Mask?
The consequences range from inconvenient to life-threatening, depending on what you're using the mask for:
- Hay fever — A fake FFP2 might let pollen through. Annoying but not dangerous.
- Construction dust — A fake mask with ineffective filters means you're inhaling silica, wood dust, or other hazardous particles. Long-term exposure causes serious lung disease.
- Asbestos — Using a counterfeit FFP3 around asbestos is genuinely life-threatening. Mesothelioma has no cure.
- Healthcare — Fake masks put healthcare workers and vulnerable patients at risk of infection.
For workplace use, employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to provide suitable PPE. Using counterfeit masks — even unknowingly — can result in prosecution by the HSE if a worker is harmed.
Compare Prices on Genuine Masks
One reason counterfeit masks exist is that people search for the cheapest possible price and end up on dodgy marketplace listings. The irony is that genuine FFP2 and FFP3 masks from legitimate suppliers start from well under £1 per mask if you buy in bulk quantities.
Here are current best prices on genuine masks from verified UK suppliers:
| Mask | Rating | From (per mask) | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Aura 9332+ | FFP3 | £0.10 | See all prices |
| Alpha Solway HX-3 | FFP3 | £0.11 | See all prices |
| JSP F621 Flat Fold | FFP2 | £0.50 | See all prices |
| Oxyline XR 250 | FFP2 | £1.00 | See all prices |
| 3M Aura 9320+ | FFP2 | £1.38 | See all prices |
| Honeywell SuperOne 3207 | FFP3 | £3.00 | See all prices |
Prices updated daily across 20+ UK suppliers. All suppliers listed on Mask Directory are genuine UK businesses selling certified products.
Browse all masks and compare prices from verified UK suppliers →
