Parents urged to check Halloween costumes

As Halloween approaches, parents are being urged this week to check their children's costumes to ensure they meet safety standards.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has urged parents and guardians to carry out a three-step safety check when buying costumes and accessories for children.

It revealed that over 25,000 unsafe toys, including costumes and props, have been recalled or withdrawn from the Irish market since Halloween 2024, due to not meeting safety standards.

The CCPC advised parents to check for a CE mark, which shows that the product meets recognised safety standards. Halloween costumes and accessories, including masks, are considered toys, and all toys should have a CE mark. If the toy doesn’t have one, don’t buy it, the CCPC advised.

It added that parents and guardians should check for small parts, including batteries. For children under 3, anything smaller than a €2 coin could be a choking hazard, and button batteries are especially dangerous. Check if the battery pack can be easily opened and if so, stop using the product immediately and always keep batteries out of reach of children.

For children under 7, avoid costumes with fixed cords or strings around the head, neck, or chest, as they pose a strangulation risk. Instead, look for breakaway fastenings like Velcro or snaps.

Every year, CCPC product safety officers proactively inspect hundreds of products and engage with toy sellers and businesses across Ireland. They also collaborate with European safety networks and Revenue Customs to identify and intercept unsafe products before they reach consumers, ensuring that dangerous toys, costumes and accessories are recalled, removed from shelves, or prevented from entering the Irish market altogether.

Where products fail to meet safety standards, CCPC officers use their statutory powers to ensure they are removed from shelves to protect consumers and prevent further risk.

CCPC Director of Communications Gráinne Griffin said: “This Halloween, we are reminding parents and guardians to be extremely vigilant and check their child’s costumes and any other props or accessories by conducting our three-step costume check.

“Buying Halloween costumes and accessories from a reputable shop in Ireland gives you stronger consumer rights and makes it easier to get a refund if something goes wrong. Carefully check toys you buy in store, online, from street traders, at pop-up stands and second-hand toys. Even trusted stores can experience product recalls, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

“Parents can find more information on recalls on our website or social media channels. If parents have a safety concern about a Halloween costume or prop, you should bring it to the attention of the business and report it to the CCPC. Reports from consumers are vital; they alert us to unsafe products and drives our inspections and enforcement work.”

If you have concerns about the safety of a Halloween costume, prop, or accessory, stop using it immediately and contact the CCPC’s national consumer helpline on 01 402 5555 and report the issue to the manufacturer or retailer.