The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has ordered the removal from the market of two particular kinds of Halloween costumes for children which can pose the risk of strangulation.

Mystic Witch Children’s Halloween costumes is intended for children aged 4 to 6 and Horror Life witch Silver cobweb costumes for children aged 6 or under are thus being banned.

The named Halloween costumes have strings in the neck area which are prohibited in all clothes for children under the age of seven years. These strings, if present pose a serious risk of strangulation to children if they become entangled in larger fixed products such as playground equipment or the home.

Consumers who have bought the mentioned Halloween costumes should refrain from using them and return them back to the retailer from where they have been bought.

Shop owners are being advised to remove these products from the market and return them to their supplier. Enforcement action will be taken with economic operators who place these products on the market.

Any person who requires further information or has any queries on this issue may contact the Technical Regulations Division within the MCCAA (Tel: 2395 2000 or email: [email protected]