EU Toy Standard EN71-3

1. Introduction to EN71-3

The EU Toy Safety Standard EN71-3 imposes strict limits on 19 chemical elements in surface coatings of toys, preventing children from ingesting heavy metals when biting toys, thereby safeguarding their health.

2. Scope of Regulation

(1) According to the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, the EN 71-3 toy safety standard applies to products designed or intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age, whether or not exclusively intended for such use.

(2) EN 71-3:2019 specifies requirements and test methods for the migration of 19 substances from toy materials and components: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium (III), chromium (VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organotin, and zinc.

The standard categorizes materials into the following three types, each with different limit values:

Category I: Dry, brittle, powdery, or pliable materials;

(1) Solid toy materials that leave marks or similar, such as colored pencil leads, chalk, crayons.

(2) Soft modeling materials, such as plaster, clay.

Category II: Liquid or sticky materials;

(1) Liquid or liquid-like toy materials, such as finger paints, varnishes, inks, bubble solutions, etc.

(2) Solid glue.

Category III: Scrapable materials.

(1) Coatings, varnishes, printing inks, polymer and similar polymer coatings.

(2) Paper and cardboard.

(3) Natural or synthetic textiles.

(4) Wood, leather, etc.

Note: 1) Packaging materials are not included unless they are part of the toy or have play value themselves.

2) Certain toys and toy components are excluded from this standard if, considering normal and foreseeable child behavior, their accessibility, function, quality, size, or other characteristics clearly preclude hazards from sucking, licking, or swallowing.

3. Limit Values for 19 Heavy Metal Elements