Toy safety compliance: EN 71 files, CE marking, age grading and warnings
KidiQ handles toy safety compliance as an EU importer: before a toy ships, we check the EU declaration of conformity, the manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports, the CE marking, the age grade and the warnings in the language of each country of sale. These documents and labels are rarely seen until a retailer, a marketplace or a market surveillance authority asks for them. This page explains what the EU toy rules require, what we check as importer and what stays your job when the toy carries your brand.
Our position on documents is simple. Toys are supplied with the manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports on request, and we check the documents before shipment. We do not claim that every product has a report, and we do not describe our toys as certified. Where a report is missing for a custom or new design, we say so before you order. This is not legal advice.
Toy safety compliance: what we check before a toy ships
Conformity documents
That the manufacturer has done the conformity assessment, issued an EU declaration of conformity and holds the technical documentation. We keep copies.
EN 71 test reports
That the report names the right laboratory, model and materials, covers the parts of EN 71 that apply, and matches the toy we ship, not a similar one.
Age grading and small parts
That toys for under-3s contain no small parts, and that toys not suitable for under-3s carry the warning with its reason.
CE marking and labels
CE marking, manufacturer and importer name and address, batch or type number, and warnings in the language of each country of sale.
What the EU toy rules and EN 71 cover, and what we check
| Requirement | What it covers | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC | Products designed or intended for play by children under 14 | Whether the product is a toy, decided on its design and use, not on how it would be easiest to label |
| EU declaration of conformity | Issued by the manufacturer after the conformity assessment | That it exists, names the exact toy and lists the standards applied |
| Technical documentation | The manufacturer’s file: design, safety assessment, test reports, materials | That it exists and that the parts we need are available to us and to authorities on request |
| CE marking | A declaration by the manufacturer that the toy meets the rules. It is not a certificate and not issued by us | That it is on the toy or packaging and is backed by the documents above |
| EN 71-1 mechanical and physical properties | Small parts, sharp edges and points, seams, cords and attachments | Report for the model; on samples and at inspection, detachable parts, seams and cord lengths |
| EN 71-2 flammability | Plush toys, costumes and dress-up sets, play tents and teepees | Report for the fabric and the model |
| EN 71-3 migration of certain elements | Paints, coatings, plastics, modelling clay and dough | Report covering the actual materials and colours; new colours can need new testing |
| EN 71-8 activity toys for domestic use | Swings, slides and similar toys | Report for the exact model; assembly, load and maintenance instructions |
| Age grading and warnings | “Not suitable for children under 36 months” with the reason; specific warnings for aquatic toys and inflatables, activity toys and toys in food-like shapes | Warning text and age grade on the toy, packaging and in your listings, in each language of sale |
| Manufacturer and importer details | Name and postal address of both on the toy or its packaging | Manufacturer, EnjoyGroup Sp. z o.o. as importer, and your brand where it applies |
| Chemicals beyond EN 71 | REACH (EC) 1907/2006: phthalates in plastic parts, PAH in rubber and plastic parts, azo dyes in textiles; SVHC information on request | REACH declarations or test reports from the manufacturer where the material requires it |
| New EU Toy Safety Regulation | Adopted in 2025 to replace the Directive after a transition period; it brings, among other things, a digital product passport and stricter chemical rules | We follow the transition to the new Toy Safety Regulation and tell you what changes for the toys you buy |
This is not legal advice. Standards are paid documents, and some points above are our own reading. Which parts of EN 71 apply depends on the toy. We check them for each order, and suggest you confirm them with your adviser or an accredited laboratory.
What you receive and what stays with you
- Toys with CE marking, age grade and warnings checked for each country of sale
- The manufacturer’s EN 71 test reports and EU declaration of conformity on request, checked before shipment
- EnjoyGroup Sp. z o.o. named as EU importer on the toy or packaging, with batch or type number
- For custom or new designs without a valid report: testing in an accredited laboratory before shipment, at your cost, quoted in advance
- Under your own brand: you take on the manufacturer’s obligations, and we agree in the contract which documents we prepare and keep
- Your job as a seller: the same warnings and safety data in your online listings, and passing on any safety complaint to us without delay
Frequently asked questions
What does the EU Toy Safety Directive require?
Directive 2009/48/EC covers products designed or intended for play by children under 14. It requires CE marking, an EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation from the manufacturer, warnings in the language of the country of sale, and the names and addresses of the manufacturer and the importer on the toy or its packaging.
Do all your toys have EN 71 test reports?
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, material or colour, we tell you before you order, and we do not ship until the documents are in order.
Is CE marking on a toy a certificate?
No. On a toy, CE marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that the toy meets the EU rules, based on its own conformity assessment and technical documentation. Be wary of any supplier offering a “CE certificate” for a toy as if it were a separate document. As importer, we check that the marking is backed by the declaration of conformity and the file.
Who pays for EN 71 testing on a custom toy design?
You do, and you see the price before anything is ordered. If no valid report exists for a custom plush, a new print or a new paint colour, we arrange testing 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, and the time is built into the sample and production plan.
What stays my job if the toy carries my brand?
The manufacturer’s obligations: a company that places a toy on the market under its own name or trademark takes on the declaration of conformity, the technical documentation and responsibility for the design. We remain the importer, collect and check the documents, and set out in the contract who prepares and keeps what. Please confirm the details with your adviser.
When does a toy need the under-36-months warning?
When it is not suitable for children under 3, for example because it contains small parts, and the warning must state the reason. Toys intended for under-3s must not contain small parts at all, and as a policy our catalogue excludes toys with small parts intended for children under 3. We check the age grade against the toy itself, not only against the box.
What changes with the new EU Toy Safety Regulation?
A digital product passport and stricter chemical rules, among other things. The EU adopted a new Toy Safety Regulation in 2025; it will replace the Directive after a transition period. We follow the transition to the new Toy Safety Regulation and tell you what changes for the toys and documents you buy from us.
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