Need to know
- Many big local and international retailers are selling themed costumes, decorations and treats for Halloween
- Some products have already been flagged as dangerous, following multiple recalls in previous years
- We’re sharing tips for avoiding dangerous items and spotting potential risks in common Halloween products
Like it or not, Halloween has become popular in Australia.
One in five of us were expected to join the spooky celebration and spend a total of $450 million on activities like trick or treating, decorating and costuming last year, according to Roy Morgan data.
With the day itself (October 31st) falling on a Friday this year, it's likely plenty of us will be getting in on the spirit again and retailers are already rolling out product ranges to aid in the haunting.
Considering the event still divides opinion in Australia, you might think the riskiest thing about celebrating Halloween is copping an earbashing from someone who's not a fan.
In reality, however, the costumes, decorations and treats marketed to us at this time of year can themselves pose serious safety risks.
The Halloween products ghosting Australia's safety standards
This year has already seen items designed to fright and delight recalled for failing to meet regulations put in place to protect Australian consumers.
This is in line with previous years, when Halloween-themed dress-up items, toys and treats have been pulled off shelves, often for not meeting battery safety standards or labelling requirements.
Shocking battery safety
Last year, Western Australia's Consumer Protection agency revealed around half of the Halloween products it had inspected from major online retailers didn't meet Australia's product safety standards.
The agency said cheap light-up novelty toys and flashing objects like imitation jack-o-lanterns, cauldrons, candles, torches and wands ran a particular risk of not complying with regulations around the use of button batteries.
Consumer Protection WA says around half of the Halloween products it inspected from major online retailers last year didn't meet safety standards. Image: Consumer Protection WA
Meanwhile, the fallout from last year's spooky season also saw the ACCC's Product Safety arm recall a light-up Halloween-themed fairy floss bucket for not meeting button battery requirements.
Button batteries are the coin- or button-sized units often used in novelty products to make them light up, flash or make noise.
But their compact size means these cells are easy for children to swallow, which can prove fatal. In 2020, CHOICE advocacy helped bring Australia's world-first rules into force which require manufacturers to make it harder for children to remove these powered units from toys.
Many of the Halloween items recently flagged as dangerous aren't complying with these rules or others that require button battery warnings be included with items containing these units.
Cosmetic risks
WA Consumer Protection's 2024 investigation also found issues with products many of us will turn to when preparing a spooky costume or decorations, namely novelty tattoos, face paint, makeup and fake blood.
This year has already seen a range of Halloween tattoos recalled for not meeting safety standards. Image: ACCC
Just last month, ACCC Product Safety pulled a line of Halloween-themed temporary tattoos off shelves – an intervention it's made in previous years against glow-in-the-dark and horror-themed makeup and face paints.
These products were all flagged because they didn't come with an ingredient list, which temporary tattoos and other cosmetics are required to have before they can be sold in Australia.
This information is required to help consumers with allergies avoid products that could hurt them and to assist medical professionals investigating the cause of an unexpected reaction.
Hazardous fake versions of the popular Labubu toy are being sold alongside the real thing.
Viral imitators
No celebration is more closely tied to pop culture than Halloween, with the latest trends in movies, TV and social media top of mind for many dreaming up their Halloween theme.
But CHOICE has found manufacturers seeking to cash in on viral product trends can cut corners when it comes to safety.
For example, Labubus are one of 2025's trendiest and most sought-after toys and will likely feature in more than a few Halloween arrangements in coming weeks.
But CHOICE experts recently echoed consumer regulators overseas in warning shoppers that some of the cheaply made counterfeit versions of these dolls (known as Lafufus) pose serious safety risks, including choking hazards and dangerous chemicals.
If you're preparing to stock up for a Labubu love-in this Halloween, make sure you check out our guide to spotting a Lafufu to avoid any nasty surprises.
Australians overestimating product protections
These concerning findings come as many Australians believe we're better protected from dangerous products than we really are.
Last year, a CHOICE survey* of over 1000 households found three quarters think businesses are legally required to make sure the products they sell are safe before making them available to consumers.
This isn't the case – currently, only some products have to be checked by suppliers to ensure they meet national mandatory safety standards before they're sold in Australia.
Other products, including toys deemed to pose a significant suffocation risk or items made with harmful materials, are banned from our shelves altogether.
How to avoid dangerous products at Halloween
It's worth knowing that while Australia may not require safety testing for all products before they're sold, there are established processes in place for recalling toys, costumes, food items and other products from sale if they turn out to be dangerous.
Candles and other decorations containing flames are common at Halloween, so check costumes for fire risk information.
And protections are improving – previous work by CHOICE has helped result in new safety measures, such as those for button batteries, being added to Australia's raft of mandatory standards.
In the meantime, here's how to avoid making risky picks when stocking-up on popular Halloween items:
- Stay up to date with the latest recalls and safety warnings from ACCC Product Safety and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Following these organisations on social media or signing up to their emails is an easy way to keep an eye on updates.
- Avoid buying cheap light-up novelty toys and items that flash or make noise from overseas websites. We've seen many of these items fail Australian safety standards.
- Any small toys or novelty products that light up, flash or make noise likely contain button batteries, which are easy for children to swallow. Check the item to make sure these batteries are properly secured and difficult for young hands to remove.
- Make sure cosmetics like novelty tattoos, face paint, makeup or fake blood come with ingredient labels in case they contain allergens or start causing irritations, reactions or infections.
- Check costume labels for fire risk information and choose those marked 'flame resistant' or 'fire resistant'.
- Beware of wearing items without fire risk information or with fire danger warnings, being especially careful around flame decorations common at Halloween, such as jack o' lanterns.
- Get familiar with which products are banned in Australia to ensure you steer clear of Halloween deals from overseas containing products carrying a serious risk of injury, illness or death.
CHOICE calling for new safety requirements
For years, CHOICE has been calling for stronger product safety protections to cover all products sold in Australia.
These would make it illegal for retailers to sell unsafe items and place obligations on businesses to ensure that all products are safe before they're sold.
*CHOICE Consumer Pulse September 2024 is based on an online survey designed and analysed by CHOICE. 1024 Australian households responded to the survey with quotas applied to ensure coverage across all age groups, genders and locations in each state and territory across metropolitan and regional areas. The data was weighted to ensure it is representative of the Australian population based on the 2021 ABS Census data. Fieldwork was conducted from 5 to 18 September 2024.
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family. And our recent sunscreens test showed just how important it is to keep business claims in check.
So you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
