Tech Watch: EU Adopts New Regulation to Strengthen Toy Safety Across Europe

On 12 December 2025, the European Union officially adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, a law aimed at ensuring a higher level of safety for toys and protecting children from potential hazards. The new regulation, published today in the Official Journal of the European Union, repeals the previous Directive 2009/48/EC and introduces stricter requirements for manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

The regulation addresses growing concerns about harmful chemicals, digital risks, and emerging technologies in toys. It introduces generic prohibitions on hazardous substances, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, as well as PFAS and certain bisphenols. Manufacturers will now be required to conduct comprehensive safety assessments and comply with updated chemical limits to protect children’s health.

In addition to chemical safety, the regulation sets out essential safety requirements covering physical, mechanical, flammability, electrical, hygiene, and radioactivity hazards. It also tackles new challenges posed by digitally connected toys, requiring compliance with cybersecurity and privacy standards under related EU legislation.

A major innovation is the introduction of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) for toys, which will replace the traditional EU Declaration of Conformity. This passport will provide detailed compliance information accessible via a data carrier on the toy or its packaging, enhancing transparency for consumers and facilitating market surveillance and customs checks.

The regulation also strengthens obligations for economic operators and online marketplaces, ensuring that toys sold online meet EU safety standards. Market surveillance authorities will have enhanced powers to act against non-compliant products, and customs authorities will verify DPPs for imported toys.

Key dates:

Entry into force: on 1 January 2026.
Application: From 1 August 2030, with transitional provisions allowing toys compliant with the old directive until that date.
Certain provisions, including those on conformity assessment bodies and digital product passports, apply from 1 January 2026.

The European Commission will provide guidance to SMEs and publish practical tools to help manufacturers adapt to the new requirements.

For full details, visit the official EUR-Lex page: Regulation (EU) 2025/2509

To help the toy industry navigate the new regulation on toy safety, here are additional resources: