Which toy safety rules apply?
As of 28 September 2026, Directive 2009/48/EC remains the main framework for placing toys on the EU market. Its scope generally covers products designed or intended for play by children under 14, subject to exclusions. Handmade toys supplied commercially are not exempt simply because they are handmade. Check the European Commission's toy safety guidance and the product's classification before planning tests.
Plan for the transition: Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 entered into force on 1 January 2026 and generally applies from 1 August 2030, when the Directive is repealed. Articles 28–44 and 49–55 already apply from 1 January 2026. The Regulation introduces a digital product passport; this is not a blanket requirement for every toy placed on the market in September 2026. Check Articles 56–59 for the application dates and treatment of products and certificates during the transition. See the official Toy Safety Regulation.
Standards and conformity assessment
The safety requirements are mandatory; harmonised standards are a technical route to demonstrating conformity. Under the Directive, internal production control is available where the manufacturer applies harmonised standards covering all relevant safety requirements. EC-type examination by a notified body, followed by conformity to type, is required in the cases specified in Article 19, including where relevant harmonised standards do not exist or are not fully applied. See the Commission's market-entry guidance.
Manufacturers must also assess hazards, prepare technical documentation and the declaration of conformity, control production, provide the required identification, instructions and warnings, and affix CE marking. Buying a standard or obtaining a laboratory report does not transfer these responsibilities to the publisher or laboratory.
Standards families to investigate
These are starting points, not a complete test plan. Confirm the relevant part, edition, amendments and scope. When relying on presumption of conformity, check the exact reference, restrictions and withdrawal dates in the official toy harmonised-standards publications. A newly published edition is not automatically the edition cited in the Official Journal.
| Reference | Assessment focus | Scope check |
|---|---|---|
| EN 71-1 | Mechanical and physical properties | Age grading, accessible parts and product-specific hazards. |
| EN 71-2 | Flammability | Applicable toy category and material requirements. |
| EN 71-3 | Migration of certain elements | Relevant toy materials and migration limits; not a complete chemical-safety assessment. |
| EN IEC 62115 | Electrical safety of electric toys | Electrical functions, power sources and relevant European amendments. |
The BSI catalogue scope for EN 71-1 distinguishes mechanical and physical requirements from electrical safety covered by EN IEC 62115. Additional parts or other legislation can be relevant to a particular product.
Keep toys, playgrounds and amusement rides separate
Public playground equipment and automatic playing machines intended for public use are excluded from the Toy Safety Directive. Do not treat every amusement product as a toy. EN 13814 and EN 14960 concern different equipment families; their presence in a catalogue does not make them universal toy CE-marking requirements. Establish the equipment's classification, intended setting and applicable national rules before selecting standards. See the official summary of the Directive's scope.
Prepare a useful testing request
- Describe the product, intended age group, foreseeable use and target markets.
- List materials, coatings, accessible components, batteries and electrical or radio functions.
- Share the proposed assessment route, exact standard references and existing evidence.
- Ask the laboratory to confirm methods, sample requirements, exclusions and the accreditation scope for the requested work.
Prepare a laboratory testing brief · Find laboratory support · Check a laboratory's exact accredited scope
European Standards provides information and introductions. It does not test toys, issue EC-type examination certificates or approve products.
Find the standards documents
Use the external catalogue to check the exact reference, edition, language, format and licence. This guide does not host the official standards texts.
Search toy, games and amusement standards at Genorma
Frequently asked questions
Does EN 71 testing guarantee toy safety?
No. Results concern the samples, methods and conditions assessed. The safety assessment must address all relevant hazards, and the manufacturer remains responsible for the finished toy and continuing production.
Do handmade toys need CE marking?
A handmade product supplied commercially must meet the applicable toy obligations if it falls within the Directive's scope. Handmade production does not create a general exemption, but EN 71 is not the only legally available conformity-assessment route.
Is one standard sufficient for an electronic toy?
Do not assume so. Assess electrical, mechanical, chemical and other relevant hazards, and identify additional legislation according to the product's functions. A radio-enabled toy needs a different legal-scope check from a simple non-radio toy.
Official sources checked on 28 September 2026. General planning guidance; verify the current legal requirements and exact standards for the product before relying on them.
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