Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation (EU) 2016/425
October 1, 2026
Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR)
October 1, 2026
The Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC lays down the safety requirements that toys must meet before they are placed on the market. A toy is any product designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age. Toys must carry the CE marking on the EU and the Turkish market.
For CE marking of toys, apply to CE Danışmanı (CE Consultant); we manage the whole process for you.
Who is responsible
Every company in the supply chain, from the manufacturer to the importer and the distributor, is responsible for the safety of the toys it makes available. The manufacturer carries out the safety assessment, the importer checks that this has been done, and the distributor verifies the marking and the accompanying documents.
Products that are not toys under the Directive
- Detailed scale models and decorative dolls for adult collectors
- Decorative objects for festivities and celebrations
- Sports equipment
- Aquatic equipment intended for use in deep water
- Puzzles with more than 500 pieces
- Guns and pistols using compressed gas
- Fireworks
- Darts with metallic points
- Functional educational products such as electric ovens and irons operated at more than 24 volts, sold for teaching under adult supervision
The Directive also does not apply to playground equipment intended for public use, automatic playing machines intended for public use, toy steam engines, and slings and catapults.
Safety requirements
A toy, including the chemicals it contains, must not endanger the safety or health of users or third parties when it is used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children. This must hold for the whole foreseeable period of use.
| Area | Requirement in short |
|---|---|
| Physical and mechanical properties | The toy and its parts have the mechanical strength and stability to withstand use without breaking or creating a risk of injury |
| Flammability | The toy is not a dangerous flammable element in the child’s environment |
| Chemical properties | No risk of adverse effects on health from exposure to the substances or mixtures the toy contains |
| Electrical properties | The toy is not powered by more than 24 volts direct current or the equivalent alternating current; parts that can come into contact with a source of electricity are insulated against electric shock |
| Hygiene | The toy meets hygiene and cleanliness requirements to avoid infection, sickness or contamination; toys for children under 36 months can be cleaned |
| Radioactivity | The toy complies with the relevant radiation protection rules |
Harmonised standards
- EN 71-1: Mechanical and physical properties
- EN 71-2: Flammability
- EN 71-3: 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 71-7: Finger paints
- EN 71-8: Activity toys for domestic use
- 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
- EN IEC 62115: Electric toys, safety
How conformity is shown
- Safety assessment. The manufacturer analyses the chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, flammability, hygiene and radioactivity hazards of the toy and the likely exposure to them.
- Testing to the applicable parts of EN 71 and, for electric toys, EN IEC 62115.
- Conformity assessment. Where harmonised standards cover all the relevant safety requirements and have been applied, the manufacturer uses internal production control. Where they do not exist, have not been fully applied, or the manufacturer considers that third-party verification is needed, the toy goes through EC-type examination by a notified body.
- Technical documentation and EC Declaration of Conformity. Both are kept for 10 years after the toy has been placed on the market.
- CE marking on the toy, on a label attached to it or on the packaging.
Marking and warnings
Each toy carries the CE marking, the manufacturer’s name, registered trade name or trade mark and address, and a type, batch, serial or model number. Where needed for safe use, the toy bears warnings that state the user limitations, such as the minimum or maximum age, and the risks involved. Instructions and warnings are given in the language of the country of sale.
Toys in Turkey
Turkey applies the Directive through its own Toy Safety Regulation, published in the Official Gazette of 4 October 2016 and aligned with 2009/48/EC. Warnings and instructions must be in Turkish. Toys are among the product groups checked at import through TAREKS, where the declaration and test reports are requested.
Other legislation that may apply
Electric and electronic toys also fall under EMC and RoHS requirements. A product for children that touches food is assessed under food contact materials legislation, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, for migration.
