EN 71 is the European toy safety standard, and it is not one test but a series of parts that apply depending on what the toy is and who it is for. This guide explains what each part covers, how the age grading on your product decides the scope of testing, and where testing usually fails on plastic toys made in China.
The parts that matter for plastic toys
- EN 71-1 Mechanical and physical properties. Covers small parts, sharp edges, protruding points, tensile strength on seams and fittings, and the torque and tension tests on eyes, noses and other attached parts. For moulded plastic this is where thin ribs, snap-fit hooks and thin living hinges fail.
- EN 71-2 Flammability. Applies to toys that could catch fire: hats, beards, soft-filled toys and any toy worn on the head. Hard moulded plastic usually does not need it, but plush and costume elements do.
- EN 71-3 Migration of certain elements. The heavy metal test: antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium. Coatings, inks and any coloured surface are the risk area, not the base polymer.
- EN 71-9, 10 and 11. Organic chemical compounds, chemical toy sets and organic compounds in toys for children under three. Relevant if you sell slime, crayons, scent additives or craft kits.
- EN 71-12 to 14. Phthalate plasticisers in toys for children under three, and newer parts covering NMU and certain amines.
Age grading drives the test scope
The same physical toy can pass or fail EN 71 depending on the age you declare, because the standard is built around developmental behaviour. A magnet that is harmless in a toy for ages 8 and up is a prohibited small-part hazard in a toy for ages 3 and under. Declaring an age you cannot defend, usually to widen the market, is the most common compliance mistake importers make.
Where plastic toys actually fail
- Torque and tension on attached parts. A moulded arm that pulls off under 90 N of tension fails EN 71-1. The fix is usually a larger boss, a metal insert or a thicker section at the joint.
- Small parts after abuse testing. Parts that survive the sample test but release a component after the drop and soak pre-treatments. Adhesives and snap fits behave differently after conditioning.
- Migration on decorated parts. Pad-printed eyes and labels frequently exceed the lead or cadmium limit, even when the base resin is clean. Always test the finished, decorated part, not the undecorated one.
- Plasticiser limits in soft PVC. DINP, DEHP, DBP and BBP are restricted in toys intended for children under three. The safe route is a certified phthalate-free plasticiser or moving the part to PP or TPE.
- Documentation. Missing the technical file, missing the traceability marking on the product or packaging, or a CE declaration that references the wrong parts of the standard.
What to ask your supplier
Ask for the test report from a lab that carries the relevant accreditation, for the specific parts of EN 71 tested, and for the age grading rationale. A report that only covers EN 71-3 is not a toy safety report. If the supplier cannot produce a report, the sample is being tested for the first time at your cost, and the result will not be known until after you have committed to the order.
Related reading
Our baby and infant toy range is moulded in food-contact compatible materials with migration reports supplied per lot, and our STEM and educational kits carry the 6+ age grading with supervision notes. For the US market, see the companion article on ASTM F963 and CPSIA requirements.
