Trading Standards separate the tricks from the treats this Halloween
Published: 26 October 2023
The five costumes that failed test purchases have all been recalled.
Our Trading Standards team have been hard at work finding dangerous costumes and getting them off the shelves.
Many people are still feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living, and those wanting to dress up for Halloween may turn to online retailers or marketplaces for bargain costumes. However, this could bring some scary surprises. Derby City Council’s Trading Standards recently carried out five test purchases from independent sellers on Amazon and all five products failed.
One product, a girl’s witch costume, presented a serious risk of entrapment and failed flammability tests, while a baby’s pumpkin outfit from the same seller carried serious chemical and asphyxiation risks.
Another two witch costumes both presented a serious risk of choking, alongside entrapment, asphyxiation and strangulation. One also failed flammability testing, with flames spreading faster than 30mm per second.
The final product to be tested - a girl’s vampire costume, also failed as it presented a serious risk of entrapment and was missing required documentation and markings.
These products all originated in China and were sold via Amazon, who removed the items from their website when informed. You don’t always know who is selling products on there, so it is important to only buy from sellers you trust.
They all failed to meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (Consumer Protection Act 1987) or the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:
I’m incredibly proud of our Trading Standards team for their work leading to these recalls, which not only keep Derby residents safe, but everyone shopping for costumes online.
We’ve all heard stories about accidents involving unsafe Halloween costumes and I would urge anyone to really consider whether the money saved buying a cheap costumer is worth the risk to their safety or that of the children who will wear them.
Not everything for sale online is dangerous, but shoppers should always check the sellers’ details and only buy from sellers you trust.