Overview

EN 71 is a series of toy safety standards developed by the European Union, fully titled "Safety of Toys". Jointly developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), it serves as the harmonized standard for the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. The EN 71 series of standards covers various requirements including the mechanical and physical properties, flammability, migration of chemical substances, and toxicity of toys, serving as the core compliance basis for toy products entering the EU market. After passing EN 71 testing and signing a Declaration of Conformity, toy products can be affixed with the CE mark for sale in the EU market. The EN 71 series of standards is continuously updated and currently includes more than a dozen sub-standards.

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Applicable Product Scope

Applicable Product and Service Categories

The EN 71 standard applies to toy products intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age, including but not limited to: plush toys, plastic toys, educational toys, electric toys, construction toys, model toys, art supplies such as watercolor pens and crayons, children's sports equipment, children's tents and playhouses, toy musical instruments, stuffed toys, and children's books (books with detachable parts). EN 71 does not apply to: public playground equipment, sports equipment (for non-play purposes), and chemical sets used under teacher supervision in educational instruction (partially covered by EN 71-4).

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Test Items and Standard Requirements

Technical Standards and Compliance Indicators

The EN 71 series of standards includes the following core sub-standards

EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 (Specific elementsTest Item: Simulated gastric acid conditions (0.07 mol/L hydrochloric acid,37 °C, 2 hours) migration of 19 soluble harmful elements from toy materials.

EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Physical and mechanical properties)
Test Item	Mechanical strength of toy structures and components, small parts testing (to prevent choking), sharpness of edges and points, clearances of moving parts (to prevent pinching), kinetic energy limits for projectile toys, acoustic testing (to prevent hearing damage), ride-on toy stability
Critical Limit	Toys for children under 36 months shall not contain parts that can completely fit into the small parts test cylinder; the kinetic energy of projectiles shall not exceed 0.5J (without protective tips) or 0.08J (without impact surfaces).
EN 71-2:2020 (Flammability)
Test Item	Overall toy flammability test, flame spread rate test for plush fabrics, and burning rate test for disguise costumes and children's dress-up costumes.
Limit value	The surface flame spread speed of plush fabric shall not exceed 30 mm/s (if it self-extinguishes after removal of the ignition source, it is qualified).
Element	Category I (mg/kg)	Category II (mg/kg)	Category III (mg/kg)
------	---------------	----------------	------------------
Aluminum (Al)	5625	1406	70000
Antimony (Sb)	11.3	2.82	141
Arsenic (As)	3.8	0.94	47
Barium (Ba)	450	112.5	5625
Boron (B)	15	3.75	15000
Cadmium (Cd)	1.3	0.3	17
Chromium (Cr) (III)	37.5	9.4	468.8
Chromium (Cr) (VI)	0.02	0.005	0.253
Cobalt (Co)	10.5	2.625	130.5
Copper (Cu)	77	19.25	7700
Lead (Pb)	2.0	0.5	23
Manganese (Mn)	1200	300	15000
Mercury (Hg)	7.5	1.875	94
Nickel (Ni)	150	37.5	930
Selenium (Se)	37	9.25	460
Strontium (Sr)	2250	562.5	56000
Tin (Sn)	3750	937.5	60000
Organotin	0.9	0.225	12
Zinc (Zn)	3750	937.5	46000
Category I	Dry/brittle/powder-like/pliable toy materials (such as chalk, modeling clay)
Category II	Liquid or sticky toy materials (such as bubble solution, finger paints)
Category III	Scrapable toy materials (e.g., paint coatings, varnishes)

EN 71-4:2013 (Experimental sets for chemistry) EN 71-5:2015 (Chemical toys - Sets other than experimental sets) EN 71-7:2014+A2:2018 (Finger paints) EN 71-8:2018 (Activity toys for domestic use) EN 71-9:2005+A1:2017 (Organic chemical compounds - Requirements and test methods) EN 71-10:2005 (Organic chemical compounds - Sample preparation) EN 71-11:2005 (Organic chemical compounds - Methods of analysis) EN 71-12:2016 (N-Nitrosamines) EN 71-13:2014+A2:2017 (Olfactory board games and taste tests)

04

Certification Process

Complete steps from application to obtaining certification

The EN 71 certification process is as follows:
Step 1	Confirm the applicable EN 71 sub-standards for toy products.
Step 2	Prepare technical documents and samples.
Step 3	Submit samples to an ISO 17025 accredited toy testing laboratory for testing.
Step 4	An EN 71 test report will be issued upon passing the test.
Step 5	Prepare technical documentation (Technical Documentation), including product description, design drawings, test reports, risk assessment, user manuals, etc.
Step 6	Sign the EU Declaration of Conformity (EU DoC).
Step 7	Affix the CE marking (indicating manufacturer/importer information, product identification information).
Step 8	Retain technical documents for 10 years for future reference.

05

Required Documents and Notes

List of Required Documents and Materials for Application

To apply for EN 71 testing, the following information is required: product name and model.

Product Images and Design Description

Product exploded view and BOM list (indicating the material of each component)

Description of Applicable Age Group

Samples (components of each color and material must be provided)

Packaging information. Note: The safety level of toys is closely related to the applicable age group, and the requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months are the most stringent. The CE mark is a mandatory requirement for the sale of toy products in the EU market, and toys without the CE mark affixed must not be sold. The Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC regarding CMR substances in toys (carcinogenic

Substances toxic to reproduction) are subject to additional restrictions, exceeding the scope of the EN 71 series standards. Fragrance allergens in toys must undergo additional assessment. Products found non-compliant during market surveillance will face recalls and fines. The EN 71 standards are updated frequently; it is recommended to regularly monitor changes in the latest versions, particularly as the heavy metal migration limits in EN 71-3 have been revised multiple times.

06

Test Sample Requirements and Turnaround Time

Technical Standards and Compliance Indicators

Sample requirements for EN 71 testing vary depending on the test item.

Physical and mechanical testing (EN 71-1) requires complete finished toy samples, at least 2 to 3 units, with the exact quantity depending on toy complexity and the number of test items.

Flammability testing (EN 71-2) requires complete plush toy samples or sufficient fabric samples (at least 100x100mm).

Chemical migration testing (EN 71-3) requires at least 100mg to 1g of each homogeneous material; parts of different colors must be sampled separately.

EN 71-9 organic compound testing requires at least 2 to 5g of each material.

The overall testing period is typically 7 to 15 working days; expedited service can be completed within 5 to 7 working days.

Chemical migration testing under EN 71-3 is the most time-consuming part of the testing cycle due to the analysis of multiple elements.

It is recommended to arrange testing as early as possible after product design is finalized to allow sufficient time for rectification.

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