Be safe this halloween

As children everywhere prepare for Halloween, The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is advising parents to check for safety labels and markings when shopping for Halloween costumes and accessories this holiday season.
“Don’t let Halloween be more frightening this year than it should be,” said Maurice Buckley, Chief Executive of the NSAI. “Consumers should look out for safety standard labels on their Halloween costumes, props and toys, such as ‘flame resistant’ and the CE mark. Both of these labels show that the manufacturer has complied with national and international standards. The label doesn’t mean that these items won’t catch fire, but it does indicate that they will resist burning and they should extinguish quickly once you get them away from the fire source,” Mr Buckley added.
Halloween props to complete the scary costume such as masks, pitchforks, and brooms should also have a visible CE mark. Under Irish and European law, children’s toys must display the CE mark, which shows that the manufacturer has complied with the Irish and European ‘Safety of Toys’ standard (I.S. EN 71). This means that the product has undergone safety testing in the design and manufacture process.
CEO of NSAI Maurice Buckley is warning parents to be weary of fake CE marked costumes and accessories that may be for sale on the market.
“It’s difficult but one way to spot fraudulent CE markings it to check the logo. Sometimes the wrong logo is used entirely, but if it looks correct, check the middle line of the ‘E’, as it should be shorter than the other parts,” said Mr Buckley.
Parents have also been advised to check the labelling on face paints to ensure that they are safe to use and are from a reputable manufacturer. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) gave the warning  in light of the fact that one in five parents (21per cent) don’t read the product information before buying these products for their children.
The HPRA states that parents need to be vigilant of the dangers posed by sub-standard face paints which, in the past, have been found to contain harmful substances.