On this page
- What is EN 71 and when does it apply?
- EN 71-1, EN 71-2 and EN 71-3 compared
- Other parts and electrical toy safety
- A practical toy safety and CE marking checklist
- The Toy Safety Regulation and the 2030 transition
- Choose the EN 71-1 document for your toy review
- Find the correct EN 71 edition and licensed document
- Frequently asked questions
What is EN 71 and when does it apply?
EN 71 is a series of toy safety standards. Its parts address different hazards, including mechanical and physical risks, flammability and the migration of certain elements. Choose the relevant parts from the toy's intended use, age group, materials and safety assessment; there is no single EN 71 test that covers every toy.
EU toy safety law sets mandatory safety requirements. Harmonised standards are a voluntary route to demonstrating conformity with the requirements they cover. Using EN 71 does not automatically establish compliance with every applicable rule. Check the European Commission's current toy safety references, including restrictions and withdrawal dates.
EN 71-1, EN 71-2 and EN 71-3 compared
| Part | Main subject | Question for your test plan |
|---|---|---|
| EN 71-1 | Mechanical and physical properties | Which requirements apply to the age group, small parts, cords, accessible edges and foreseeable play? |
| EN 71-2 | Flammability | Which materials and toy categories require assessment, such as costumes, soft-filled toys or play enclosures? |
| EN 71-3 | Migration of certain elements | Which accessible materials and material categories are relevant to migration testing? |
These parts are common starting points, not a universal package of identical tests. EN 71-3 is not a complete assessment of all chemical hazards, and a passing report for one material does not establish the safety of the finished toy. See the BSI overview of the EN 71 series for its technical role.
Other parts and electrical toy safety
Specialist parts address particular products or hazards: EN 71-4 concerns experimental sets, EN 71-5 other chemical toy sets, EN 71-7 finger paints, EN 71-8 domestic activity toys and EN 71-14 domestic trampolines. This is a selection, not the complete series or a statement that every edition is harmonised.
Electrical hazards need a separate assessment; the EN IEC 62115 family is relevant to electric toys. Also identify other applicable legislation, including chemical restrictions. The Commission provides toy classification and safety guidance for borderline products and specific issues.
A practical toy safety and CE marking checklist
- Define the product. Record intended play, age group, materials, variants, accessories and target markets.
- Complete the safety assessment. Address relevant hazards and foreseeable exposure before choosing tests.
- Select the documents. Record each standard's exact edition, amendments, scope and EU citation status.
- Choose the conformity assessment route. Internal production control is available when harmonised standards cover all relevant safety requirements and are applied. Otherwise, EC-type examination through a notified body may be required; check the applicable conditions.
- Build the evidence. Match reports to the actual product, materials and variants. Maintain the technical documentation and production controls.
- Complete market information. Check the declaration of conformity, CE marking, traceability, warnings and instructions.
The Commission's manufacturer guidance explains the assessment routes. A commercial laboratory report and a notified body's EC-type examination certificate have different functions.
What to send a testing laboratory
Prepare product photographs, drawings, the proposed age grade, a materials list, supplier information, labels, instructions and a list of variants. Ask the laboratory to identify the proposed methods and editions, sample requirements, exclusions and the scope of its accreditation. Use our accredited laboratory guide to check the relevant scope rather than relying only on a laboratory logo.
The Toy Safety Regulation and the 2030 transition
Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 entered into force on 1 January 2026 and generally applies from 1 August 2030, replacing Directive 2009/48/EC. Its changes include a digital product passport framework. Do not treat these future product obligations as already applying to every toy in 2026. Check the transitional provisions for your placing-on-the-market date. Source: European Commission toy safety legislation.
Choose the EN 71-1 document for your toy review
Read our EN 71-1 mechanical and physical toy safety buying guide for the published-edition and EU-citation distinction, related hazard areas and a product-specific evidence checklist.
The guide uses a fictional soft-toy design change to show how an importer can map revised components and accessories to supplier evidence. It includes the exact Genorma purchase record while keeping the wider toy safety assessment separate from buying one standard.
Find the correct EN 71 edition and licensed document
Check the standards body's catalogue and the EU harmonised reference separately: the newest published edition and the edition cited for legal purposes can differ. Confirm language, amendments, available format and user licence before ordering.
Search EN 71 in the Genorma catalogue (external catalogue partner). Prices and availability are set by the supplier. This website provides guidance, not the standard itself. See legal access to standards and our CE marking guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is EN 71 mandatory for all toys?
The legal safety requirements are mandatory. Use of harmonised EN 71 standards is voluntary, but the chosen conformity assessment route must demonstrate compliance. Applicability depends on the product and the hazards covered.
Is an EN 71 certificate enough for CE marking?
A test report alone does not replace the manufacturer's safety assessment, technical documentation, declaration or production responsibilities. Check what the document actually certifies and which products, versions and tests it covers.
Can I download EN 71 as a free PDF?
Use an authorised publisher or licensed access service. A freely accessible copy found online is not evidence of permission to reproduce or share it. Confirm the licence and edition before use.
Sources checked for this editorial update: 26 September 2026. This overview is not a product-specific conformity assessment.