With Halloween just a few days away, we urge parents to be extra cautious when buying themed products online. In our most recent testing, a shocking 80 percent of all Halloween products tested failed to comply with required safety and labeling regulations. Despite rigorous safety legislation in place, only three of the 49 tested products met these safety standards. Concerns that child safety is at risk cannot be overstated.
The tests, administered by Consumer Protection, were primarily on Halloween-themed toys and decorations. Alarmingly, three-fourths of these products had button batteries that could be easily accessed, creating a critical risk of injury or death to children. Dr. Tony Buti, Minister for Road Safety, emphasised the importance of staying safe this festive period. He asked parents to immediately contact Consumer Protection with any new safety complaints.
Safety Concerns Over Button Batteries
The recent appearance of button batteries in Halloween products, along with their dangerous nature, has made this a relevant issue. Dr. Buti stressed the risk posed by batteries that are loose or easily accessible. They also pose grave health risks to our young children.
“Please ensure the button batteries come in a compartment that is protected from the children, that they are not loose and if there is any issue in that, please report that to the Consumer Protection unit of the department,” – Dr. Tony Buti
Trish Blake, Idaho Consumer Protection representative, had a warning for parents. She stressed that they can’t trust just the visual evidence of what battery compartments look like.
“Don’t be fooled by battery compartments having small screws in them, because what we found in a lot of these products, is they have the screws but the screws don’t actually attach to anything, or they’re not long enough,” – Trish Blake
We hope your Halloween has been as rewarding as Halloween is becoming in Australia! Consumers need to be on alert and examine their purchases carefully.
Recommendations for Parents
If Halloween products are planned for use by children, parents should give particular attention to the warnings and instructions. The agency recommends that you should be able to drop things from waist height and not have them break into pieces too readily. This easy test can be used to spot dangerous toys or holiday decorations.
Additionally, Dr. Buti articulated concern over the long-term consequences for the children who do ingest button batteries.
“But many, many, many more children are now suffering lifelong requirements for surgery and medical issues because what happens is, when they swallow those button batteries in their oesophagus, it burns the tissue,” – Trish Blake
Consumer Protection is at the forefront of this fight, teaching both direct sellers and online marketplaces to improve consumer safety measures. As a component of this commitment, six online platforms reported collectively removing 61 million non-compliant products from their sites.
Future Improvements Expected
Moving forward, officials are expecting a “huge leap” in safety and labeling requirements for next year’s Halloween merchandise. As Halloween continues to grow in popularity, she said the emphasis on safety has to go hand-in-hand.
“If you are thinking about splashing out on Halloween, visit our local bricks-and-mortar stores, the local traders — they’re working really hard,” – Trish Blake
By opting for local retailers known for compliance, parents can increase their chances of purchasing safe Halloween products for their children.
