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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Balloons and choking hazard warnings

Latex balloons and small balloons are specifically named in the federal choking-hazard labeling rules: they must carry a warning that they can cause suffocation and are not for children under a certain age, even though they are not banned. If you sell balloon sets, decorations, or party kits that include balloons, that warning language is not optional, and the rest of the kit still follows the children’s product rules.
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The labeling rules for balloonsHow this fits with a CPC for party products

The labeling rules for balloons

  • Latex balloons: mandatory cautionary labeling about un-inflated or broken balloons being choking hazards for children under a stated age.
  • Small balls and marbles in the same labeling regime have their own wording requirements.
  • The warning must be prominent on the packaging: this is a label law, so the product itself (a balloon) is not marked, the packaging is.

How this fits with a CPC for party products

A balloon set that is a children’s product still needs a CPC citing the applicable rules, and the packaging must carry the required warnings. Sellers of party mixes should check every component: balloons, small balls, and marbles each have their own labeling language. The certificate covers the product; the warnings are a packaging obligation you must design in.

Questions people ask

Do mylar (foil) balloons need the same warning?

Mylar balloons have different labeling treatment than latex: latex carries the strictest warning language. Check the current labeling rule for the exact wording per material.

I sell balloon pumps. Is that a children’s product?

Balloon pumps are usually general-use tools rather than children’s products unless marketed for kids. Classify by design and marketing, then certify accordingly.

Where do I put the warning if I sell online only?

Online listings need the hazard statement visible in the listing images or text, and the physical packaging must carry it too: both channels, both places.

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