Toys Safety Directive

Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys

The Toy Safety Directive establishes safety requirements for toys and certain types of children’s products intended to be used by children under 14 years of age.

It requires that products under the scope of the directive must follow the technical requirements regarding the chemicals and heavy metals concentration limit, mechanical/physical properties specification, flammability rate, and more.

The safety requirements of the Toy Safety Directive are compiled in the EN Standards 71 in 14 parts, including:

• EN 71-1: Mechanical and physical properties
• EN 71-2: Flammability
• EN 71-3: Specification for migration of certain elements
• EN 71-4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
• EN 71-5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets
• EN 71-6: Graphical symbols for age warning labeling
• EN 71-7: Finger paints

Note that, according to the directive, in some case, the conformity assessment procedure might require Notified Body involvement, including when:

• No harmonized standards for the product exists
• Harmonized standards exist but the manufacturer or importer didn’t apply them
• The manufacturer or importer deems the use of a Notified Body necessary

Product Examples

Here some examples of products under the scope of the Toys Safety Directive:

• Wooden toys
• Fabric toys
• Education kits
• Finger paints
• Electronics toys
• Children’s furniture with play features

Annex I of the directive lists exempted products such as puzzles with more than 500 pieces, bicycles with a maximum saddle height higher than 435 mm.

Learn More

a. List of Products Covered by the Toy Safety Directive (EN 71)

b. Official Text of the Directive