New Framework for Evolving Standards

EN 71 outlines the safety criteria your product must meet before it can be sold in any EU market. The main purpose of these criteria is to protect the health and safety of children, parents and caregivers.

EN 71 consists of a series of standards that cover different aspects of toy safety. 

This standard establishes a series of mechanical and constructive requirements that are of general application to all toys, such as those regulating the presence of sharp edges, sharp points, toys with projectiles, magnets, or even the acoustic behaviour of toys that emit a sound, among others. For toys specifically designed for children under 36 months, the standard defines specific additional requirements that seek to reduce the risks that this type of toy may present, such as the presence of small pieces and beads, rattle ropes, teething toys, hemispherical toys, etc. It also includes further requirements for the items that form part of their packaging, including the markings, labelling and instructions that must be included in toys.

This specifies certain flammable materials that are prohibited in the manufacture of all toys, and requirements concerning the flammability of certain toys (e.g. beards, wigs, masks, fancy dress, toys into which a child can penetrate, stuffed flexible toys, etc.), when they are subjected to a small source of ignition.

This establishes requirements and test methods for the migration of Al, Sb, As, Ba, B, Cd, Cr (III) and Cr (VI), Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Se, Sr, Sn, Organic Sn and Zn in toy materials (paints, varnishes, lacquers, printing inks, modelling materials, graphite materials in pencils, liquid ink in pens, metallic materials, polymeric materials, paper and cardboard, fabrics, wood, etc.) that are susceptible to being sucked, bitten or ingested by the child.

This specifies the requirements concerning the maximum amount of certain substances and preparations used in experimental sets for chemistry and related activities. The standard applies to chemistry sets and complementary games. The standard contains specific requirements for toys that generate carbon dioxide and crystal growing kits. It also applies to experimental sets within the fields of mineralogy, biology, physics, microscopy and environmental sciences, when they contain one or more chemical substance and/or preparation. It also specifies requirements concerning marking, list of contents, instructions for use and the materials used in the experiments.

This standard applies to sets such as plaster of Paris (gypsum) moulding sets, ceramic and vitreous enamelling materials supplied in miniature workshop sets, oven-hardening plasticised PVC modelling clay sets, plastic moulding sets, embedding sets and adhesives, paints, lacquers, varnishes, thinners and cleaning agents (solvents) supplied or recommended in model sets. It specifies the maximum quantities of the substances and preparations that can be supplied with the toy, as well as marking requirements, warnings, safety rules, list of contents, instructions for use and first aid information.

This sets requirements for substances and materials used in finger paints, and applies only to finger paints. Additional requirements are also specified for their marking and labelling, and for their containers.

This part of Standard EN 71 includes requirements and test methods for activity toys for domestic use, often attached to or incorporating a crossbeam, and similar toys intended for children under 14 years of age to play on or in, and to support the weight of one child or several children. The object and field of application of this standard excludes equipment intended for use in schools, kindergartens, public playgrounds, restaurants, shopping centres and similar public places; this is dealt with in EN 1176 Parts 1 to 6, 10 and 11.

These parts of the standard specify the requirements for the migration or content of certain hazardous organic chemicals contained in the materials of certain toys, and describe the sample preparation methods and test methods used to determine these compounds. The routes of exposure taken into consideration are: mouth contact, ingestion, skin contact, eye contact and inhalation. The organic compounds taken into consideration are certain solvents, preservatives, plasticizers, flame retardants, monomers, biocides, processing aids and colouring agents.

This standard sets out the requirements and test methods for determining free nitrosamines and nitrosatable compounds from elastomeric toys and toy parts intended for children under the age of 3, elastomeric toys and toy parts intended to be placed in the mouth and finger paints.

The standard applies to board games that involve smelling or tasting, cosmetic kits and complementary sets, and it specifies requirements regarding the use of substances and mixtures and in some cases, their quantity. The standard also includes requirements regarding labelling, the instructions that must be provided, safety rules and first aid.

This standard sets out the requirements to be met by trampolines for domestic use, as well as their access devices and their enclosures, used by a single person either indoors and/or outdoors. It also sets out the test methods for verifying compliance with the requirements.

Services related to toy testing according to European standards

    • Evaluation of the suitability of fragrances in toys
    • Evaluation of the labelling and composition of toy cosmetics
    • Toy safety tests according to European Standard EN-71 (Parts 1- 14): Organic compounds:
    • Additives: phthalates, preservatives, antioxidants, etc.
    • Unintentionally added substances: Amines, PAHs, etc.
    • Volatile substances: Benzene, Toluene, etc.
    • Azo dyes.
    • Organotin compounds
    • Formaldehyde
    • Bisphenol A
    • Other substances restricted by the REACH regulation and the RoHS Directive