Even if there are all kinds of challenges in our society or an economic problem, one product category sells very well, that would be toys. These are in high demand from kids, and it’s easy to see why. Thanks to EN71 compliant toys, kids experience new things, experiment, try out new stuff and learn. They get to expand their knowledge and creativity while pushing things to the next level in a great and exciting manner. If you are looking to start a new business, then importing toys from China is a great idea, and it can bring in front some amazing benefits and outstanding results. It’s certainly something to check out, and it can offer astonishing success.
However, if you live in the European Union and want to sell imported toys, they must pass the EN71 certificate for toys. Many importers are taking this for granted, but they don’t realize the major importance that this has, and how crucial it is to have this type of compliance. In this article, we focus on learning more about the EN71 certificate for toys, its importance, and why it is very important to acquire it as quickly as possible.
What is EN71?
At its core, the EN71 is a combination of different European Product Safety Standards. These are applied to every toy sold in the European Union. EN 71, which is part of the CE directive, was specifically made to ensure that the toys sold within the EU meet specific criteria. These include radiation, sanitation, safety, chemical structure, fire resistance, mechanical disturbance, and many others.
Is the EN71 compliance mandatory?
Yes, every toy seller who wants to sell such products within the EU must comply with the requirements. It also doesn’t matter if the toys are imported or even created within the European Union. The requirements are always the same. How do you define a toy? This is any product being used by kids and targeting kids under 14 years old is seen as a toy, and thus it needs to have the EN71 certificate for toys. These rules can be changed depending on the situation, but you need to check the latest rules and ensure that you are up to date.
Why is a test report mandatory?
It’s crucial to share records showing the toy you want to sell follows the EN71 compliance. The test report is a document showing the overall compliance. It shows that the product passed the test according to the technical specifications.
How can you get the EN71 test report?
1. Get the EN71 from the toy supplier
If you already have a cooperating supplier, then directly ask your supplier for EN71. By the way, it’s important to note that if you purchase toys from the YIWU market, around 95% of toys are without an EN71 test report. But, it’s a very good idea to purchase toys from Shantou Toy Market. Here, over 90% of toys with EN71 certification. That means you don’t have to pay for this certification.
2. Receive the sample from the toy supplier and get the EN71 certificate by yourself
If your supplier can not provide EN71 for you, you have to get the EN71 yourself. After you receive the sample from your supplier, you have to send it to the lab. The laboratory staff will test the toy. If the toy is indeed EN71 compliant, you can get the EN71 test report. That means you pay for this certification.
3. What labs can you use for EN71 certification?
There are many large and small laboratories, here are 3 well-known laboratories：
- Intertek: www.intertek.com
- Eurofins: www.eurofins.com
- Bureau Veritas: www.bureauveritas.com
It’s also possible to talk with the suppliers and let them handle the situation.
The great thing here is that they always know all the latest EN71 standards and requirements if you book lab testing.
Three parts of the EN71 need to be checked
After receiving the EN71 certificate for toys, it’s crucial to keep in mind that 3 parts need to be checked here:
- EN71-1: Mechanical and physical properties
- EN71-2: Flammability
- EN71-3: Specification for migration of certain elements
You must ensure that the toys have proper physical and mechanical properties, otherwise, you can encounter all kinds of issues. You will notice that different risks are associated with each toy, so your focus is to try and eliminate that risk as much as you can. In case there are risks, warning labels need to be attached appropriately.
Flammability tests are crucial too, especially if these toys need to be worn or used near certain parts of the body. We also need to talk about toy part migration. If compounds like barium, mercury, lead, antimony, cadmium, and others can be problematic, and it’s crucial to ensure that they are not bringing any specific issues. Otherwise, there can be problems that might appear, and it’s something to avoid as much as possible.
What happens if the toys are not able to receive the EN71 certificate?
What happens if the toys are not able to receive the EN71 certificate?
Since EN71 compliance is mandatory, you need to ensure that your products surpass the EN71 requirements. Otherwise, you will not be able to sell your products on the EU market. This is why you need to ensure that you are making your products compliant with the EN71 requirements.
The EU doesn’t compensate anyone if the goods are not compliant. That’s valid even if the supplier is to blame here. By the way, the EU is constantly regulating chemicals and they are changing the EN71 requirements often.
