Costume Compliance: Labels & Kids’ Safety

Compliance is the least visible part of a costume order and the one most likely to stop a shipment. The rules depend on what the product is, who it is for and where it is sold — and a costume can be classified differently in different markets. This guide is a buyer’s overview of the questions to ask and the documentation to collect. It is not legal advice, and requirements change; confirm the current rules with your importer, testing lab or compliance advisor before shipping.

First, classify the product

The same costume can be treated as apparel, a toy, a disguise or a children’s product depending on the market and the age group it targets. Classification drives which rules apply: fibre labelling and care labelling for apparel, chemical and physical safety rules for children’s products, and additional requirements if the item is marketed as a toy. Get the classification agreed before you design the label and the packaging, because it affects both.

European Union

• Chemical restrictions — REACH restricts a long list of substances in textile and leather articles, including certain azo dyes, nickel release and restricted flame retardants. The exact obligations depend on the material and the entry.
• Fibre labelling — Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 sets how textile fibre composition must be named and displayed. Mixed fibres, linings and trims each need to be considered.
• Children’s cords and drawstrings — EN 14682 covers cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing, including hoods and waists. This is a common failure point on costume capes and hooded robes.
• General Product Safety Regulation — the GPSR (EU) 2023/988 applies to consumer products placed on the EU market, with obligations for traceability and an EU-based responsible economic operator. Confirm how it applies to your product and channel.
• Packaging — packaging waste rules and material labelling vary by member state; check the destination market.

United Kingdom

Great Britain has its own product safety and labelling regime, and Northern Ireland follows different rules for some product categories. Do not assume an EU label or test report is accepted unchanged. Confirm the UK requirements for the specific product and the destination within the UK.

United States

• CPSIA — children’s products are subject to lead, phthalate and testing requirements, a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) and a permanent tracking label. The definition of a children’s product is based on the intended user, so a costume marketed to children is in scope.
• Fibre and care labelling — the FTC textile rules require fibre content, country of origin and care instructions for many apparel items.
• State chemical rules — California Proposition 65 and similar state programmes can require warnings or disclosures for listed substances.
• Flammability — apparel flammability rules apply to certain garments; confirm whether the costume and its accessories are in scope.

What to ask a supplier

1. Material composition for every component, including lining, trim, lace and faux fur.
2. Whether the style has been tested, by which lab, against which standard, and for which colourways.
3. Whether test reports cover the exact material and colour you are ordering; a report for a different dye lot may not be accepted.
4. Label artwork: fibre content, care instructions, country of origin, size and any market-specific warnings.
5. Traceability: factory, batch and a tracking label for children’s products where required.

We can supply material composition, construction details and the documentation we hold for a style, and we work with buyers’ nominated labs for testing. We do not claim certifications we do not hold; the right test plan depends on your market and your product classification. Our quality control page explains the inspection process, and the FAQ covers labelling and packaging questions.