EU toy safety: the Toy Safety Directive now, the new Regulation from 1 August 2030

• design and manufacture the toy in accordance with the safety requirements of Article 10 and Annex II (Article 4(1));
• before placing it on the market, analyse its chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, flammability, hygiene and radioactivity hazards (Article 18);
• carry out the conformity assessment, draw up the EC declaration of conformity and affix the CE marking (Article 4(2));
• where harmonised standards are not applied, or applied only in part, the toy needs EC-type examination by a notified body (Article 19(3));
• keep the technical documentation and the declaration for 10 years after the toy is placed on the market (Article 4(3));
• show a type, batch, serial or model number, and your name, registered trade name or trade mark and contact address (Article 4(5) and (6));
• provide instructions and safety information in a language easily understood by consumers (Article 4(7)), with warnings that specify user limitations where needed for safe use (Article 11(1)).

The EU importer also shows its name and contact address on the toy or its packaging (Article 6(3)). A toy may only be placed on the EU market if a business established in the EU is responsible for it: an EU manufacturer, the importer, an authorised representative with a written mandate, or an EU fulfilment service provider (Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, Article 4).

• The Regulation applies from 1 August 2030, and Directive 2009/48/EC is repealed on that date (Articles 56 and 59).
• Before placing a toy on the market, the manufacturer creates a digital product passport for it (Articles 7(2)(a) and 19(1)).
• A passport that contains all the information of the declaration of conformity fulfils the obligation to draw up that declaration (Article 19(5)).
• Warnings and the data carrier linking to the passport must be clearly visible to the consumer before purchase, including when buying online (Articles 6(3) and 19(7)).
• Toys placed on the market in conformity with the Directive before 1 August 2030 may still be made available afterwards (Article 57(1)).
• EC-type examination certificates issued under the Directive remain valid until 1 February 2031, unless they expire earlier (Article 57(3)).

The Regulation entered into force on 1 January 2026; Articles 28 to 44 and 49 to 55 apply from that date (Article 59). The obligations on toys themselves start on 1 August 2030.

• Check whether your product is a toy under the definition above.
• Meet the Directive's requirements for every toy you place on the market before 1 August 2030.
• Plan the digital product passport for toys you will place on the market from 1 August 2030.
• Make sure a business established in the EU is responsible for each toy.

Not sure which other EU rules apply to you? Use the EU rules finder.