The Significance of EN71 Certification:
EN71 constitutes the regulatory standard for toy products within the European Union market. Children represent a demographic cherished and protected by society at large. Whilst the toy market, favoured universally by youngsters, experiences rapid growth, incidents of harm to children arising from various quality issues in toys occur with some frequency. Consequently, nations worldwide are progressively imposing stricter requirements upon toys entering their domestic markets. Numerous nations have established their own safety regulations for these products, requiring manufacturers to ensure compliance with relevant standards before sale within their territories. Producers bear liability for accidents arising from manufacturing defects, faulty design, or the use of unsuitable materials. Consequently, the European Toy Safety Directive EN71 was introduced. Its purpose is to impose technical specifications on toys entering the European market through the EN71 standard, thereby reducing or preventing harm to children.
New EN71 Standards:
EN71-1:2005 Safety of Toys – Part 1: Physical and mechanical properties
This section primarily covers drop tests, small parts tests, sharp edges tests, tensile strength tests, pressure tests, seam strength tests, ear/nose/eye pull tests, and torsion tests.
EN71-2:2006 Safety of Toys – Part 2: Flammability
This part specifies prohibited flammable materials for all toys and combustion performance requirements for toys exposed to certain small ignition sources. Tested materials must not exceed specified combustion rate limits.
Applies to headwear toys, costume accessories, toys worn during play, toys designed for children to enter, and soft stuffed toys containing plush or textile fabrics.
EN71-3:2001/AC:2002 Safety of Toys – Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements
This part specifies maximum limits for migrated elements (antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, tin) in accessible parts or materials of toys. The testing principle is: soluble elements are dissolved substances extracted from toy materials under conditions simulating prolonged contact with gastric acid following ingestion. The content of soluble elements is quantitatively determined using methods with appropriate detection limits.
EN71-4:1990+A1:1998 Safety of toys – Part 4: Test apparatus for chemical and related activities
EN71-5:1993 Safety of toys – Part 5: Chemical toys (excluding test apparatus)
EN71-6:1994 Safety of toys – Part 6: Pictorial representation of age markings
This part specifies that toys unsuitable for children under 3 years of age but potentially hazardous to them shall bear an age warning label. The warning may be conveyed by text or pictorial symbols. If a warning statement is used, it must comply with the requirements of EN71 Part 1. The warning must be clearly displayed, whether in English or in the language of another country.
EN71-7: Requirements for Finger Paints
This part lists permissible colouring agents and preservatives in finger paints along with their limits, specifies migration limits for eight heavy metals and restrictions on the use of major aromatic amines, and sets requirements for the physical properties of finger paints.
EN71-8: Swings, slides and similar toys for indoor and outdoor domestic use
EN71-10: Sample preparation and extraction of organic compounds
EN71-11: Analytical methods for organic compounds
EN71-9 General requirements for organic compounds — specifies the total migration of toxic compounds present in each toy or toy material via the following exposure routes: contact with the mouth; ingestion risk;
skin contact; eye contact; inhalation.
The scope of restricted substances is particularly broad, encompassing flame retardants, colourants, aromatic amines, monomer substances, solvent migration, inhalable solvents, wood preservatives (indoor and outdoor), other preservatives, and plasticisers.
EN71-9 forms an integral and complementary part with EN71-10 & 11.
Special Seminar on the New European Toy Safety Standard EN71-9 – Assisting Chinese Toy Exporters in Addressing High-Cost Trade Barriers Organic Compounds in Toys: EN71-9, 10 & 11 EN71-9 constitutes the first of three new additions to EN71, listing specific organic compounds used in toys. EN71-9, prEN71-10 and EN71-11 shall be applied in conjunction, with the following structure:
EN71-9: Organic Compounds – Requirements EN71-10: Organic Compounds – Sample Preparation and Extraction EN71-11: Organic Compounds – Test Methods EN71-9 was issued by CEN (European Committee for Standardisation). National standardisation bodies across Europe adopted it in August 2005, with implementation already effective in the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries. An increasing number of buyers from EU countries now require suppliers to conduct EN71-9 toy safety testing. Cases of toy recalls due to excessive organic compounds have occurred in countries such as Spain. Scope of testing: Plush toys, wooden toys, plastic toys, stationery items, etc.
EN50088/EN 62115 Safety of Electric Toys:
This standard covers all electric toys and also applies to Electric Construction Sets, Electric Functional Toys, or Experimental Sets. However, batteries and chargers used with toys cannot be considered toys themselves and must comply with the relevant electrical safety standards.
Key testing aspects under EN50088 include: marking and instructions, input power, temperature rise and abnormal operation, electrical strength, mechanical strength, construction, wires, screws and components, creepage distances and clearances, fire resistance and heat resistance, toxicity and similar hazards.
Contact: Benson
Mobile: (+86)13632500972
Email: marketing@cblueasia.com
Address: Building C, Hongjingda Industrial Park, No. 107 Beihuan Road, Shiyan Subdistrict, Bao'an District, ** City
Blue Asia Testing: More than just service!
