On 30 September 2026, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources of South Korea published Notice No. 2026-597 proposing amendments to Annex 6 (Toys) of its safety confirmation standards under the Special Act on the Safety of Children’s Products. The proposal was notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 2 October 2026 under reference G/TBT/N/KOR/1384.
The proposed revisions seek to align South Korean toy safety requirements with international standards, including ISO 8124, EN 71, ASTM F963 and IEC 62115. They address chemical safety, electrical and battery safety, oral-use toys and several other toy categories.
Comments may be submitted until 30 November 2026. The proposed changes are under consultation and are not yet in force.
Toy brands, manufacturers, importers and retailers supplying the South Korean market should check their toy portfolios and compliance documentation against the proposed changes. With global laboratories, comprehensive capabilities, toy testing expertise and timely support, we are ready to help you through changing regulatory conditions. Contact us now >
The proposal would lower migration limits for lead and aluminium across the three toy-material categories in Part 4 with reference to EN 71-3:2019+A2:2024. It also clarifies aspects of scope, including the treatment of packaging and certain assembly components.
The table below summarises the proposed changes to the three toy-material categories in Part 4:
| Toy-material category | Lead | Aluminium |
| Category 1: Dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable materials | Current: 13.5 mg/kg Proposed: 2.0 mg/kg |
Current: 5,625 mg/kg Proposed: 2,250 mg/kg |
| Category 2: Liquid or sticky materials | Current: 3.4 mg/kg Proposed: 0.5 mg/kg |
Current: 1,406 mg/kg Proposed: 560 mg/kg |
| Category 3: Scraped-off materials | Current: 160 mg/kg Proposed: 23 mg/kg |
Current: 70,000 mg/kg Proposed: 28,130 mg/kg |
These are migration limits, rather than total-content limits. Businesses should review the applicable material classifications, sampling procedures and test requirements when assessing the potential impact on their products.
The proposal also specifies additional chemical requirements for toys designed for sustained oral contact.
In addition, Part 6 would be expanded to cover both experimental sets for chemistry and related activities and other chemical toys, incorporating EN 71-4:2020+A1:2025 and EN 71-5:2025.
The finger-paint provisions in Part 7 would be updated with reference to EN 71-7:2025, including revised definitions and requirements for materials, substances, marking and containers.
Explore how Eurofins Chem-ST™ Chemical Smart Testing for Toys help you streamline chemical compliance for different markets. Download the whitepaper now >
The draft revises Part 2, covering mechanical and physical properties, with reference to ISO 8124-1:2022+A1:2025 and other international standards.
It expressly states that, unless otherwise specified, the safety requirements apply both to toys as initially supplied and after normal use and reasonably foreseeable abuse or misuse. Businesses should review the proposed provisions against their products and testing documentation.
The proposed revisions to Part 3 reflect ISO 8124-2:2023. They update the scope and requirements for categories including head-worn toys, toy disguise costumes and other toys worn during play, toys intended for children to enter, and soft-filled toys.
The proposal introduces new electric toy provisions and expands the existing battery-operated toy requirements, drawing on ASTM F963-23 and IEC 62115:2017+A1:2025.
The proposed provisions address battery access, battery compartment fasteners, charging arrangements, chargers and power supplies, short-circuit safety, and battery-use instructions and marking. They include tool-access requirements for battery compartments in toys intended for children under 36 months and for batteries classified as small parts.
The draft also addresses the charging of batteries inside toys and the movement of certain mobile electric toys during charging. These provisions could affect product design, component selection, testing and user instructions.
The proposal strengthens requirements for teethers, including limits on lead content, lead migration and bisphenol A, with reference to South Korean requirements for feeding-bottle teats.
The consolidated draft includes Part 13 for toys designed for sustained oral contact by children under 18 months. Its scope includes toys primarily intended to be sucked or chewed, such as teethers, while excluding feeding and hygiene products and certain other mouth-used toys.
The proposed provisions include material-specific chemical requirements for parts that can contact the mouth, including a bisphenol A limit of 0.04 mg/L.
They also specify boiling-water and microwave disinfection-durability tests, where applicable. These assess whether the toy remains physically compliant after the relevant treatment. The corresponding test does not apply where the product marking prohibits that treatment.
The toy industry is under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices but where should you start? Download our whitepaper for regulatory insights and practical strategies >
Part 5 would be revised with reference to ISO 8124-4:2025, covering activity toys for domestic use.
The proposed changes include updated definitions and revised provisions for finger entrapment, stability and specific activity-toy categories. For example, the draft revises finger-entrapment testing based on the location and intended use of openings and whether the toy is intended for children under 36 months.
The proposal also specifies requirements for accessible foam materials, fragrance allergens and microbiological safety.
The microbiological provisions cover toy materials containing liquids, gels and semi-solid materials, including criteria relevant to finger paints. They specify microbial-count limits and organisms that must not be detected.
Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines offers toy testing and regulatory support for manufacturers, importers, retailers and brands worldwide, including the South Korean market. We help businesses review their product portfolios, identify relevant testing needs and assess compliance documentation against current and proposed South Korean toy safety requirements.
For toys subject to South Korea’s safety confirmation requirements, testing must be conducted by a designated South Korean testing/certification body or by a laboratory whose test reports are accepted by the relevant South Korean certification body. Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines can support this testing route, with the applicable testing scope and report acceptance confirmed for each project.
While the changes remain under consultation, businesses should continue to meet existing requirements. Once the final text and implementation arrangements are confirmed, we can help review testing needs and documentation for the transition. Our teams can support preparation for the proposed changes, including chemical, mechanical and physical, flammability, and electrical and battery safety requirements.
Contact us to discuss your toy testing needs and prepare your product portfolio for South Korea’s proposed updates.