Safety checks on children’s fancy dress

A NATIONWIDE investigation is to take place into the safety of children’s fancy dress costumes as the Hallowe’en season approaches.

Trading standards officials are to carry out spot checks on costumes for sale across the country at the request of Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, as part of an assessment of whether European safety standards are tough enough.

Costumes from hundreds of fancy dress retailers will be tested for flammability to assess if they are compliant with safety standards. It comes after Claudia Winkleman, the television presenter, raised concerns about the safety of fancy dress costumes after her daughter suffered serious burns when her Hallowe’en outfit caught fire.

Mr Javid said: “My immediate concern as a father and a minister is that children wearing these fancy dress costumes are safe.

“It is unacceptable for any costumes to be sold that do not comply with safety standards.

“Parents should feel confident that any fancy dress they buy meets required standards.” Trading standards officials will report back later this autumn.

Leon Livermore, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: “In light of the upcoming Hallowe’en season, we welcome the Government funding for trading standards to investigate the safety of children’s fancy dress costumes.

“CTSI takes issues of product safety very seriously, and hopes the evidence gathered as part of this investigation will help to establish whether the current flammability standards are still fit for purpose.”