First published: May 2026
The global landscape of children's toy safety is undergoing its most significant evolution in over a decade. From the new Toy Safety Regulation published in the EU to updated national standards in China and new product-specific rules in the United States, toy brands and manufacturers should fully understand the regulatory changes for toy compliance.
This article breaks down key updates to toy regulations and testing standards you need to know to keep your products compliant.
Contact us here directly for toy testing and compliance services.
Toy regulatory frameworks at a glance
Before diving into specific updates, it is useful to understand the baseline regulatory frameworks governing toy safety in each major market.
- In the European Union, toys must comply with Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 (replacing the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC with a transition period until 1 August 2030), supported by the EN 71 series of harmonised standards. Products must carry the CE marking and be accompanied by an EU Declaration of Conformity and, where applicable, an EC type-examination certificate from a Notified Body.
- In the United Kingdom, toy safety is governed by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1881), the retained UK version of the EU Toy Safety Directive. Products placed on the Great Britain market require either the UKCA or CE marking, and Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules requiring CE marking.
- In the United States, toys must comply with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), ASTM F963 (the mandatory toy safety standard), and applicable CPSC regulations. Third-party testing by a CPSC-accepted laboratory and a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) is required.
- In China, toys must meet the mandatory national standards GB 6675 (Parts 1–4) and, for products in scope, hold a China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) before they may be sold on the Chinese market.
Toy regulation and testing standard updates in the EU
Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509
The European Union's new Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 12 December 2025. It entered into force on 1 January 2026 and will become fully applicable on 1 August 2030, giving the industry a 54-month transition period. Until that date, toys complying with the existing Directive 2009/48/EC may continue to be placed on the market. Here are the major changes in the Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509:
- Chemical safety: The new Regulation expands the scope of banned and restricted substances. Beyond existing restrictions on carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances, it now covers endocrine disruptors, skin sensitisers, respiratory sensitisers and specific target organ toxicants. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and specific bisphenols are also prohibited. Additional restrictions apply to allergenic fragrances, nitrosamines, and the list of substances in Appendix C of Toy Safety Directive has been modified and extended and will be applicable to all toys regardless of age.
- Digital Product Passport (DPP): All toys placed on the EU market will be required to carry a Digital Product Passport containing safety and compliance information, accessible via a QR code or other data carrier. Customs authorities will use this data to verify compliance at the border. Detailed DPP requirements will be established through future delegated acts, which will replace the current EU Declaration of Conformity.
- Connected toys: Digitally connected toys must undergo safety assessments that shall take account of the particular vulnerabilities of children in relation to the use of such toys as intended. These shall also evaluate cybersecurity and data privacy considerations.
If you would like to learn more about the new EU Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, you can refer to our resources below:
- Article: A Quick Overview of the New EU Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509
- Whitepaper: The Future of Toy Safety in the EU: What businesses need to know about the new Toy Safety Regulation
Revised EN 71 toy testing standards
CEN has published updated standards in early 2026:
- EN 71-1:2026: Covering mechanical and physical properties, introduces major revisions including new requirements for food-imitating toys, a full overhaul of ride-on toy provisions (including balance bikes, brake performance, and handlebar impact tests), and updated rules for expanding materials and projectiles.
- EN 71-8:2026: Has been updated for activity toys, including inflatable play equipment. These standards, once harmonised, will provide a presumption of conformity during the transition period.
For EN 71 updates in 2025, please refer to our other article, Understanding the New EU Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 and EN 71 Updates.
Contact us for EU toys compliance and EN 71 testing.
Toy regulation updates in the United States
CPSC Water Beads Rule
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published its final rule on water beads in toys on 12 December 2025, with an effective date of 12 March 2026. The rule is codified under 16 CFR Part 1250 and also amends 16 CFR Part 1112 to include water bead toys in the CPSC's Notice of Requirements for third-party testing.
The final rule introduces a new definition of "water bead" as a variably shaped liquid absorbent polymer (composed of materials such as, but not limited to, polyacrylamide and polyacrylate), which expands when soaked in liquid. This definition is broader than the prior ASTM F963-23 "Expanding Materials" category and is not limited to spherical shapes.
On the mechanical side, the rule establishes a pass-through test applicable to beads that fit entirely within the Small Parts Cylinder (16 CFR 1501.4) when dehydrated. Those beads must, after full expansion, pass through a 5.0 mm diameter funnel or sieve test gauge under their own weight. This is not a universal cap on hydrated size. Beads that are not small parts when dehydrated are not subject to this particular test.
A new acrylamide requirement sets the maximum extractable acrylamide at 325 μg per 100 small water beads (defined as less than 4 mm in all dimensions prior to hydration) or per 1 large water bead (defined as 4 mm or greater in any dimension prior to hydration). This limit was relaxed from the 65 μg threshold proposed in the NPR. The previously proposed 50 percent maximum expansion rate was not carried forward into the final rule. Warning label requirements have also been revised, with updated content, renumbered figures, and revised captions for both water bead toy warnings and warnings for toys that contain water beads.
The rule applies to water bead toys and toys that contain water beads, using CPSC's own statutory definition of "toy" rather than deferring solely to ASTM F963. The new requirements apply in addition to the applicable provisions of ASTM F963-23. Products outside the scope include water beads used for non-toy purposes such as decorative arrangements, plant hydration, air fresheners, and first-aid cold packs.
Selling toys to the US market? Contact us here to ensure your toys comply with US requirements.
Toy regulation updates in the United Kingdom
Product Regulation and Metrology (PRAM) Act 2025
The UK continues to operate under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1881), enforced through UKCA or CE marking. The UK government has laid legislation to recognise CE marking indefinitely alongside UKCA marking for toys and a range of other product categories in Great Britain, giving manufacturers the flexibility to use either marking. A separate UKCA labelling easement allows the UKCA mark to be placed on an affixed label or an accompanying document until 31 December 2027, after which it must, in most cases, be applied directly to the product or packaging.
Additionally, the Product Regulation and Metrology (PRAM) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 21 July 2025, is a framework Act that grants the Secretary of State broad powers to make future regulations on product safety, including provisions on online marketplace obligations, the environmental impacts of products, and the alignment of UK product requirements with EU law where appropriate. The PRAM Act does not make any immediate changes to existing toy safety law, where the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 remain fully in force, but it lays the groundwork for future secondary legislation that could reshape the UK's toy safety regime.
The EU's new Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 does not apply in the UK. This means manufacturers selling into both markets must plan for increasing regulatory divergence, although the PRAM Act includes a power allowing the UK to recognise compliance with EU requirements as meeting UK product requirements, signalling a potential pathway for alignment. Toy brands and manufacturers operating in the UK should closely monitor the regulatory updates.
Ensure your toys comply with the UK toy regulatory requirements. Contact us now.
Toy testing standard updates in China
Revised GB 6675 toy testing standards
China has published a comprehensive update to the GB 6675 series toy safety standards, which includes mandatory and voluntary standards. On 5 October 2025, the National Standardisation Administration announced revised versions of GB 6675 Parts 1 through 4, replacing the 2014 editions. The implementation date for all four standards is 1 November 2026, and they are mandatory within the CCC certification framework:
- GB 6675.1-2025 (basic code): It introduces requirements for realistic food-imitating toys, formaldehyde, azo dyes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), volatile organic compounds (VOC and TVOC), allergenic fragrances, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP), and electromagnetic properties.
- GB 6675.2-2025 (mechanical and physical properties): It adds provisions for flying toys, yo-yo balls, neck straps, and food-imitating toys, alongside revised acoustic and cord requirements.
- GB 6675.3-2025 (flammability): It introduces wind speed requirements for test environments and new test methods for toy disguise costumes.
- GB 6675.4-2025 (migration of certain elements): It adds requirements for finger paints, toy cosmetics, slime, and similar materials, along with new boron limits for modelling clay and putty.
On 31 December 2025, along with the No. 38 National Standardisation Announcements published, the voluntary standard GB/T 6675.9, GB/T 6675.11, GB/T 6675.13 & GB/T 6675.14 were published as well.
- GB/T 6675.9-2025 (Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities): It replaced the GB 26387 and was modified from the ISO 8124-10:2023
- GB/T 6675.11-2025 (Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use): Modified from the ISO 8124-4:2025
- GB/T 6675.13-2025 (Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets): Modified from the ISO 8124-11:2019
- GB/T 6675.14-2025 (Requirements and test methods of finger paints): Modified from the ISO 8124-7:2015
Contact us now to test your toys against GB 6675 toy safety standard in China.
How can Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines help you navigate toy regulation updates and compliance in children’s toy safety?
With the toy regulatory landscape evolving across every major market, staying compliant demands a trusted toy testing and certification partner.
Within the Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines network of companies, we operate accredited laboratories globally, which are designed to help brands and manufacturers develop comprehensive toy testing programmes.
Our service portfolio includes:
- Chem-ST™ for Toys: Chemical smart testing for safer play
- Comprehensive chemical testing for toy safety compliance
- Mechanical and physical testing services for children's toys
- Endurance and performance testing
- Toy flammability testing
- Electrical and electronic compliance testing for toys
- ISTA packaging testing
- Certification, including CE Marking for toys
- Regulatory compliance services for toy safety standards
- Inspections and audits
Find out more about our Toy Testing Services or contact us to discuss your toy testing and compliance needs.
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Watch our on-demand webinar "Preparing for the EU Toy Safety Regulation", where experts delve into the critical aspects of the proposed Toy Safety Regulation, offering detailed explanations and practical guidance to help you navigate the upcoming changes.
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