With Halloween just around the corner, many consumers will be purchasing fancy dress costumes and associated items for their children to celebrate the occasion.

Fancy dress costumes and items intended for play for children under the age of 14 are usually classified as toys and, as such, must conform to rigorous safety standards that ensure childrens’ safety. Many consumers may also already be thinking of what toys they will be purchasing their children for Christmas.

The Office of Fair Trading is issuing this guidance document to raise awareness of the dangers of purchasing unsafe toys and to assist consumers to identify and avoid them.