EN71-1Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties

Core Objective

This standard ensures the safety of toy machinery and physical properties, preventing risks of suffocation, entanglement, cuts, falls, and other accidents, thereby safeguarding the personal safety of children aged 3 to 14 in normal use and foreseeable misuse scenarios.

Standard Definition 

EN71-1 is the core standard of the EU’s toy safety system. The current latest version is EN71-1:2026, which will replace the previous version EN71-1:2014+A1:2018. It is expected to become a mandatory standard in the Official Journal of the EU 12 months after its release. It applies to all types of toys used by children under the age of 14 and includes new definitions for emerging categories such as toy balance scooters and single-track riding toys. It serves as the primary compliance basis for listing products in the EU market and on major e-commerce platforms.

Testing And Certification Requirements

The product must undergo comprehensive testing by a third-party laboratory accredited by ILAC-MRA as the core basis for CE certification. The core requirements are as follows: 

 Prevention of Asphyxiation Risk: Toys for children under 3 years old must not contain small parts (these must pass relevant testing using test cylinders). Food-simulating toys must meet the “non-small item” standard. Expanding materials must pass a 20mm hole gauge test after expansion. 

 Prevention of Injury Risk: There must be no sharp edges or points, and the clearance between moving parts must be less than 5mm or greater than 12mm. Springs with gaps exceeding 3mm must be enclosed, and rope lengths must comply with age-specific limits.  

Structural Safety: The product must pass tests for torque, tensile strength, drop testing, and pressure. Components must not loosen or fall off. Riding toys must meet static/dynamic load and stability requirements, and folding mechanisms must have dual locking devices.  

Special Toy Control: The kinetic energy of projectile toys must meet limits, and closed toys must meet ventilation hole requirements. The tensile strength of soft-filled toys must meet standards. 

 Labeling Requirements: Priority should be given to the indication of “WARNING.” Riding toys must be labeled with a symbol indicating the use of protective equipment, and age warnings must be clear and standardized. 

 Passing these tests and affixing the CE mark is a prerequisite for the legal entry of the product into the EU market.