Quality control and EU compliance for toys
KidiQ’s toy quality control covers a factory check before ordering, sample checks, an AQL inspection before shipment and a document check under the Toy Safety Directive, the GPSR and REACH. Most toy suppliers do not publish which rules apply to their goods; we do. This page sets out what applies to toys, kids’ bags and other children’s products, what our checks cover, which documents we ask the manufacturer for, and what we do and do not claim.
Toys fall under the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, and all consumer products under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), which has applied since 13 December 2024. EN 71 standards and REACH limits are a basis for requesting documents, not a statement that a product is certified. We check what exists for your exact model and tell you before you order. This is not legal advice.
Toy quality control: what we do for an order
Factory check
Before ordering: business licence, capacity, export experience and the EN 71 reports and declarations the factory can show for the model.
Samples
Seams and filling on plush, edges and finish on wooden toys, size of detachable parts, print quality, age grade and packaging, against your specification.
Inspection before shipment
AQL sampling of finished goods: quantity, workmanship, loose parts, seams, cords, labels, warnings and carton marks.
Documents
Declaration of conformity, the manufacturer’s test reports on request, REACH declarations where the material requires it, labels and batch data.
GPSR, REACH and toy rules by product type
| Product type | What applies or serves as a reference | What we ask for |
|---|---|---|
| All consumer products | GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988: an EU economic operator, contact details, type or batch number, warnings and safety information on the product or packaging and in online listings; accident and recall duties | Label with manufacturer, importer and batch or type number; safety information in the language of sale |
| Toys for children under 14 | Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC: CE marking, EU declaration of conformity, technical documentation, warnings and instructions in the language of sale, manufacturer and importer on the toy or packaging. We follow the transition to the new Toy Safety Regulation | Declaration of conformity and technical file from the manufacturer; the manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports on request |
| Plush toys and textile toys | EN 71-1 for seams, eyes, noses and small parts; EN 71-2 for flammability; REACH limits for azo dyes in textiles | Seam and attachment check on a sample; flammability data; REACH declaration for fabrics where needed |
| Wooden toys | EN 71-1 for edges, splinters and small parts; EN 71-3 for paints and coatings. We follow the EU deforestation rules for wooden products as they apply | Report covering the paint or lacquer; FSC or PEFC on request, where available |
| Plastic toys, bath toys, vinyl figures | EN 71-1; EN 71-3; REACH restrictions on phthalates in plastic parts and PAH in rubber and plastic parts | REACH declarations or test reports from the manufacturer where the material requires it |
| Arts and crafts kits | EN 71-3 for clay, modelling dough and paints; warnings and age grade on the box | Report covering each material in the kit; instructions in the language of sale |
| Aquatic toys and inflatables | Toy Safety Directive with specific warnings, for example that the toy must be used in water only within the child’s depth and under supervision | Warning text checked against the product and the language of sale |
| Swings, slides and activity toys | EN 71-8 for activity toys for domestic use; assembly and maintenance instructions | Report for the exact model; stated load and instructions checked on a sample |
| Kids’ bags, wallets and purses | GPSR, not the Toy Directive, unless designed for play; plush backpacks and purses can be borderline. Textile labelling Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 where the product is mainly textile | Case-by-case decision before order; fibre composition label |
| Battery-powered and electronic toys | Not in our catalogue. Available on request through sourcing only, with the extra documents these products need | Full document set checked before any order |
| Packaging | EPR registration for toys and packaging where required: LUCID in Germany, BDO in Poland, Triman and EPR in France, packaging labelling in Italy. Duties depend on who places the goods on the market | Packaging materials and weights for your markets; labelling marks for each country |
This is not legal advice. Standards are paid documents, and some points above are our own reading. We check them for each order, and suggest you confirm them with your adviser or a laboratory. For the toy-specific detail, see our toy safety page.
What you receive with an order
- Toys with CE marking, age grade and warnings checked for each country of sale
- Manufacturer and importer name and address, with EnjoyGroup Sp. z o.o. as EU importer
- Batch or type number for traceability
- The manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports and declaration of conformity on request, checked before shipment
- REACH declarations and fibre composition labels where the material requires them
- Inspection report with photos before shipment
Frequently asked questions
Does every toy in your catalogue come with an EN 71 report?
Not necessarily, and we do not claim that. Toys are supplied with the manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports on request, and we check the documents before shipment. If a report does not cover the exact model, colour or material, we tell you before you order.
Is a kids’ backpack a toy?
Usually not. A school or preschool backpack falls under the GPSR, with fibre composition labelling where it is mainly textile. A plush backpack designed for play can be a toy, so we decide case by case and label it accordingly, never to avoid a rule.
Who is the EU responsible person for toys bought from KidiQ?
EnjoyGroup Sp. z o.o. in Poland, as the importer: our name and address appear on the toy or its packaging. If you import yourself, you take on the importer’s duties under the Toy Safety Directive and the GPSR.
Do you have your own laboratory?
No. Where testing is needed, for example for a custom plush or a new paint colour, we arrange it in an accredited laboratory before shipment, at your cost, quoted in advance. The cost depends on the toy and the parts of EN 71 that apply.
Which inspection standard do you use for toy quality control?
Pre-shipment inspections follow AQL sampling (ISO 2859-1), with limits agreed per product. For toys we add checks on loose or detachable parts, seams, cords, sharp edges, labels and warnings.
What do you check in toy warnings?
Three things. We check that the age grade fits the toy, that toys not suitable for under-3s carry “Not suitable for children under 36 months” with the reason, and that specific warnings, such as for aquatic or activity toys, are present. Everything is checked in the language of each country of sale.
What does the GPSR mean for toys?
The GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, applies to all consumer products and complements the toy rules. It requires an EU economic operator, contact details, a type or batch number and safety information on the product or packaging and in online listings, plus accident and recall duties.
Do toys need REACH documents?
Where the material requires it, yes. REACH restricts substances such as phthalates in plastic toy parts, PAH in rubber and plastic parts and azo dyes in textiles. We request REACH declarations or test reports from the manufacturer, and SVHC information is available on request.
Send us your toy list
Links, photos or a spreadsheet are enough. You get delivered prices, minimums, lead times and the toy safety documents available within 2 working days.
Request a quote
Send a product list, links or photos. We reply with prices delivered to your country, minimum quantities and lead times.
- Reply on working days, usually within a few hours
- Prices delivered to your door, customs and VAT included in the calculation
- Written offer within 2 working days