We all love toys. Whether it’s a personal favourite you remember from childhood or the ones you buy for your kids today, toys bring our imaginations to life and help educate us about the real world.
Because toys are played with by vulnerable persons – children – there are a series of directives and safety criteria businesses must follow when importing them into the European Union (EU); of which one is the EN 71 compliant and meeting the European Committee for Standardization’s guidelines.
This article will let you know how to tell if a supplier’s products follow the mandatory directive.
What Is EN 71 Toy Safety Testing?
The EN 71 is a European standard which covers toy safety testing. It defines the requirements for toys intended to be used by children.
In short, EN 71 is a set of standards by the European Union that specify toy safety. The EN 71 directive covers chemicals, heavy metals, flammability, and mechanical properties. It is split into sections to determine what is being tested.
Here is the breakdown of all the different parts:
- 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 labelling
- EN 71-7: Finger paints
- EN 71-8: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use
- EN 71-9: Organic chemical compounds – Requirement
- EN 71-10: Organic chemical compounds – Sample preparation and extraction
- EN 71-11: Organic chemical compounds – Methods of analysis
- EN 71-12: N-Nitrosamines and N-Nitrosatable Substances
- EN 71-13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games
- EN 71-14: Trampolines for domestic use
What Does the EN 71 Cover?
The regulations cover general physical health and safety – sharp edges, choking issues, etc., and the packaging, including suffocation risk from plastic bags (EN71-1). The flammability of the products (EN71-2). And the most commonly requested tests for chemical content for toxic items include the phthalate used in PVC, cadmium and other heavy metals used in printing or decoration (EN71-3). Click here for more information about EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive, or watch our webinar below.
Is EN 71 Lab Testing Mandatory?
An EN 71 lab testing on imported toys to the EU is mandatory as proof must be shown that they are safe for use. A third-party testing company with an accredited laboratory like HQTS is the only way to ensure your toys meet the criteria and standards the directive sets. The third-party company will then issue you a lab test report, which can be used as a documented demonstration of compliance, with information about the product and its tests.
How Much Does an EN 71 Lab Testing Cost?
It’s important to note the prices for EN 71 testing vary for each product. For example, you can expect to spend anything from $500USD to as much as $2500 and above. Here are some examples of different kinds of toys and their respective typical lab testing costs:
- Teddy bear: $700
- RC Toy: $1500
- Wooden Toy Train Set (15 Parts): $1900
- Trampoline: $2500
How to Know if a Supplier Is EN 71 Certified?
EN 71 applies to products on a case-by-case basis. Hence, to check whether a supplier is certified with the proper tests, you need to judge it on a specific product you want to import from them. Once tested, products will be issued with a EN 71 certificate test report, also sometimes called an EN 71 certificate, to confirm their compliance.
Conclusion: How to Ensure Your Toys Are EN71 Compliant
The EN71 is a European standard which covers toy safety testing and is a mandatory requirement for all children’s toys sold in Europe. To become EN71 compliant, the product must be subjected to a series of tests from an accredited laboratory.
HQTS can help with all your EU Toy Directive solutions to help you meet all of the mandatory requirements. Our internationally recognized product testing laboratory gives you the confidence to bring your product to market.
