EN 71 Physical, Mechanical and Chemical Testing for Toys

Children's toys are subject to various standards and regulations to ensure the health and safety of their users. EN 71 is the European Union standard for toy safety. EN 71 defines toys as “any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years”. The standard covers physical, mechanical and chemical requirements for toys.

The EN 71 standard specifies compliance requirements and testing methods for the mechanical and physical properties of toys. To meet mechanical and physical requirements, the toy must have the mechanical strength and stability to withstand the stresses of regular use without breaking or causing injury to the end user.

Standard EN 71 consists of the following parts:

• Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Part 2: Flammability
• Part 3: Migration of certain elements
• Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
• Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets
• Part 7: Finger paints — Requirements and test methods
• Part 8: Activity toys for domestic use
• Part 9: Organic chemical compounds — Requirements
• Part 10: Organic chemical compounds — Sample preparation and extraction
• Part 11: Organic chemical compounds — Methods of analysis
• Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances
• Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use.

EN 71-3, for example, requires that test methods simulate conditions in which the toy material remains in contact with gastric juices for a period after swallowing. This test extracts soluble elements from the material which can then be measured against the EN 71 migration limits.

For products like finger paint, EN 71-7 specifies requirements to minimize risk from prolonged skin contact or possible ingestion of the paints. Tests include requirements related to preservatives, impurities, migration of certain elements and other attributes.

Products not considered toys under EN 71 include:

• Sporting equipment, including roller skates, inline skates and skateboards intended for children weighing more than 20 kg.
• Collectors’ items intended for collectors of 14 years of age and above, such as scale models, decorative dolls and historical replicas of toys.
• Fashion accessories which are not intended for play.
• Decorative objects for festivities and celebrations.

EN 71 applies to all toys sold in the European Union regardless of where they were manufactured. Wimpey Laboratories is accredited to help you understand which parts of EN 71 and the EC Toy Safety Directive apply to your products for full compliance. We provide EN 71 Toy Testing to ensure that toys meet the European Toy Safety Directive.

Our tests help verify that toys are safe for children, covering mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and the presence of harmful chemicals. Our state-of-the-art testing facilities and experienced professionals guarantee accurate and reliable results, helping manufacturers achieve compliance and maintain high safety standards.

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