EN 71 – European Testing for Toy Safety

What is EN 71? EN 71 is the European Standard for Toy Safety Testing.

This standard applies in the following countries for toys sold to children under the age of 14 years:  Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.  Therefore, if you import or sell into these countries, compliance is a requirement.

EN 71, is broken down into Parts (Parts 1-11).  Common test requests come from Parts 1-3, which we will briefly touch on below:

EN 71 Part 1: Mechanical & Physical Properties of Toys

The purpose of this standard is to reduce risks associated with children’s toys.  Specific tests are performed on toys based upon the type of toy it is and/or characteristics of the toy.  Additionally, appropriate warning labels are addressed in this standard.

EN 71 Part 2: Flammability of Toys

This portion determines the flammability of toys.  It provides general requirements along with specific requirements for particular toys, which appear to be the most hazardous, this includes:  toys to be worn on head (beards, moustaches, wigs, etc.), toy disguise costumes & intended to be worn by children in play, toys intended to be entered by a child, and soft filled toys.

EN 71 Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements

This part involves determining the migration of the following elements:  Antimony, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium from accessible parts of toys.  This applies to the following toy materials: coatings/paints/varnishes/lacquers/printing inks/similar material, polymeric and similar materials, paper and paper board, textiles, glass/ceramic/metallic materials, other materials whether mass colored or not, materials intended to leave a trace,(i.e.pencils or liquid pens) and pliable modeling materials.

Please feel free to contact our lab for additional information regarding these parts in EN 71.  Our laboratory is accredited to the EN71 standard for sections 1-3 by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), certificate number 1888.02.