Every year, thousands of toys fail safety tests worldwide, posing risks to children and causing significant financial losses for manufacturers. Toy safety testing is a crucial element in successful product development, protecting both manufacturers and children. Our comprehensive testing protocols address mechanical, chemical, and physical safety requirements while ensuring compliance with strict European and global standards. As industry experts in toy testing, we understand the critical role that comprehensive safety assessments play in successful product development.
The European Parliament has backed tighter new EU-wide rules to enhance toy safety, focusing on harmful substances such as endocrine disruptors and digital product risks. In 2022, toys topped the list of dangerous products alerts in the EU, comprising 23% of all notifications. So, it’s understandable that product safety testing in the EU has become increasingly complex, with evolving standards and regulations shaping the toy industry.
The specific EU standards that have been tightened include:
The new legislation sets specific limits on harmful substances, such as a maximum allowable concentration of 0.1% for bisphenol A (BPA) in toys. BPA is a chemical often found in plastics that can interfere with hormonal systems. Additionally, the regulations address the safety concerns associated with digital toys, which may present privacy risks due to their connectivity features.
We help manufacturers meet these requirements, ensuring compliance with essential standards while maintaining efficient development timelines.
In this blog post, we explore the fundamental aspects of toy testing and how proper testing procedures help ensure compliance and contribute to your product's success in the market.
At TÜV SÜD, we understand that the complex landscape of toy safety standards requires deep technical expertise. The EU follows one of the strictest sets of safety standards globally, with compliance achieved through rigorous product testing.
EN 71 is the comprehensive standard that governs toy safety in the EU and UK markets. This standard, originally developed by the EU in 1990, has evolved to meet modern safety challenges. The EN 71 framework encompasses these crucial testing categories:
Testing protocols should recognise that children develop at different rates, requiring precise age-appropriate safety assessments. For products intended for children under 14 years, you should conduct specialised testing aligned with developmental stages. By definition, any product with play value for children under 14 must undergo a comprehensive safety evaluation.
Material safety forms a critical component of testing services. Under UK REACH regulations, we conduct thorough chemical safety assessments (CSA) to identify potential hazards. Laboratory testing covers essential elements including:
In 2021, the Denmark Technical University published a study commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that found harmful chemicals in 25% of children's toys. This is a great concern as infants and young children have greater sensitivity to chemical exposure due to their rapid metabolic rate, high surface area to body weight ratio, and fast-growing organs and tissues.
Contact our expert team to ensure your products meet all necessary safety requirements.
Producing safe toys requires a comprehensive approach from the initial concept phase. Our testing experience shows that reputable toymakers apply rigorous safety processes to their products. As a manufacturer, you need to consider crucial design elements such as:
According to Consumer Affairs, US hospital emergency departments treated around 231,700 toy-related injuries in 2023 for children aged 14 and younger. Your testing partner should be able to help manufacturers implement design modifications that address potential hazards while maintaining product appeal. Physical testing services can help you ensure toys withstand wear and tear through innovative design approaches.
Meeting safety regulations adds complexity to manufacturing processes, but you can optimise costs without compromising safety. As your initial investment in comprehensive safety testing may be substantial, you need to ensure you carefully choose your testing and certification partner for toys and childcare.
Complying with varying regulatory requirements across different countries and regions presents significant challenges. A company offering a global testing network helps you streamline compliance processes, reducing redundant testing and associated costs.
Partner with Our Experts: Contact our specialised toy testing laboratory to ensure your products meet safety standards while maintaining competitive market positioning. Our comprehensive testing services help you navigate regulatory requirements efficiently, saving time and resources in your product development cycle.
Safety assessments form the cornerstone of toy testing services. Comprehensive risk management requires a systematic approach throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring every potential hazard is identified and addressed.
Safety assessment protocols are designed to identify and evaluate hazards at any stage of product development. We implement detailed analysis tools that examine the relationship between hazard likelihood and potential injury severity. Through our extensive testing experience, we've observed that early-stage assessments provide manufacturers with more options for risk reduction.
A multi-layered approach to risk mitigation involves testing protocols which evaluate:
When standard testing protocols don't fully address identified hazards, our experts conduct specialised risk assessments to ensure comprehensive safety coverage. Eliminating all risks isn't possible, so our role is to help manufacturers implement effective risk reduction measures.
Technical documentation services ensure complete compliance with regulatory requirements. The technical documentation we prepare is retained for ten years after market placement, providing manufacturers with robust compliance evidence. Our traceability system tracks everything from material sourcing to final distribution, enabling swift response to any safety concerns that might arise.
Partner with our experts: Let our specialised toy testing laboratory guide you through the complex landscape of safety compliance. Want to ensure your products meet all necessary safety requirements to help you gain a competitive edge in the market?
Trust in toy safety has become increasingly crucial in today's market, with recent studies showing that many toys from some online marketplaces were non-compliant with local laws, and many of those were dangerous for children to play with. At TÜV SÜD, we're committed to helping manufacturers build and maintain consumer confidence through comprehensive safety testing.
Certification services provide manufacturers with robust safety validation. CE marking is mandatory for accessing the 500 million consumers in the European Union and European Economic Area and failure to comply can lead to fines and product recall. Through our accredited testing facilities, we help manufacturers achieve:
We've seen that proper certification significantly increases market access potential. Our global network of accredited laboratories ensures your products meet requirements across multiple jurisdictions. With 1000s of toys recalled every year due to safety concerns, our comprehensive testing services help manufacturers avoid costly market withdrawals and maintain consumer trust.
Brand protection through safety testing is crucial, as data shows that unacceptable levels of illegal and dangerous toys continue entering the market through various channels. We help manufacturers:
Professional toy testing delivers measurable benefits such as reduced recall risks, streamlined compliance processes, and enhanced brand reputation. Manufacturers who partner with accredited testing facilities tend to achieve better market outcomes and maintain stronger positions in their target markets.
Contact our expert team today to ensure your products meet global safety standards and build lasting consumer trust. Our comprehensive testing services help protect your brand while ensuring children's safety remains paramount.
Explore our toy and childcare testing and certification services if you want your products to succeed in global markets.
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