International Guide to Toy Safety Requirements

The global toy industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is expected to continue to grow for 23 years. As a result, the interest in exporting children's STEM toys to different markets around the world will be significant. Ensuring that product quality meets the various safety standards around the world will pose a challenge to manufacturers. This article Alpha science toys will help you understand the STEM toy industry, and the various safety requirements in various countries around the world. This way you can now choose products according to the requirements of your own country, to develop when the test report, better and faster activity quality STEM TOYS products.

General Rules

First, there are some general rules and assumptions.

ISO standards cannot override local and federal government and agency safety standards, regulations, and testing procedures.

Toys are designed and manufactured for a certain target group of children. The developmental stage of the target age group must be considered when assessing whether a toy is safe. For example, how likely are children in the target age group to swallow small parts of the toy? What are the developmental expectations of the target age group?

In addition to the self-evident inherent risks, the toy should not pose a risk to the well-being of children in the target market. Can children handle the toy reasonably well without the risk of injury?

Children still need adult supervision when playing with the toy because accidents can occur during play. You need to test whether potential injuries can be prevented in the presence of an adult.

When assessing the safety of a toy, assume that there will be reasonable wear and tear.

Major Standards

As mentioned earlier, different regions and countries will have their own safety standards for children's toys. The following are the main standards and requirements for toys in different countries.

EN71

EN71 is the European standard for toy safety. It mainly conforms to the provisions of the European Toy Safety Directive. EN71 also covers toy safety regulations in the UK. In the UK, there are seven standards and a separate standard to govern the electrical safety of toys.

The law sets out the safety requirements for all toys produced for children under 14 years of age. Products that are not sold as toys but still have the appearance of toys are also subject to the EN71 standard. Certain toys, such as toy slings and slingshots, are exempt from the standard. The standard has six sections that address different aspects of safety, such as flammability, toxicity, and safety marking. All toys imported into Europe must carry the CE mark.

CE Mark of Conformity

ASTM F963

ASTM F963 is the U.S. safety standard for toys. The toy must meet the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The goal of ASTM F963 is to reveal any hazards that may not be readily apparent to the average person when the toy is used as intended. ASTM F963 also lists requirements and test methods for toys manufactured for children under the age of 14. The requirements vary depending on the age group.

ISO 8124

The ISO 8124 standard was developed by a collaboration of experts from various countries including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. There are 25 participating countries and 30 observer countries. The standards have been adopted or used as a reference for national requirements in about 20 countries, such as Australia and China. The goal of the ISO standards is to create harmonization among the world's major standards. The regulations of one market may differ from those of another. Therefore, compliance with the regulations in one country does not ensure compliance in another country.

Although ISO standards were created to create harmonization among key standards, compliance with these standards does not automatically guarantee compliance in every country. Toys must comply with each country's own set of safety standards. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm with each country their toy safety requirements.

Testing Recommendations

Alpha science toys remind everyone that because standards vary around the world, it is important to include general best practices that cover all bases in your quality assurance program. The following are recommended checks and tests to be performed during the inspection process.

Primary Tests

Actual performance

Tension and seams

Drops

Flexibility

Compression

Flammability

Torque

Safety, maintenance, and warning label inspection

Internal inspection

Mechanical hazards

Filling

Specific tests

Moisture testing of wooden toys

Sense of smell

Adhesion on logo/label

Electrical

Chemical test

Hygiene

Metal testing

Although different regions have their own requirements, this does not mean that achieving compliance on a global scale is a tall order. By establishing quality testing methods that cover all necessary areas, your products will be able to achieve compliance. If you still think you need more help, find out more details about how we can provide a solution to your challenge.

Alpha science toys as a professional China educational toys manufacturer, has a professional R & D team and quality inspection team, understands the different children's STEM TOYS testing standards of countries around the world, while our children's science experiment kits, fully comply with the different global children's toy safety standards, product quality, and quality assurance, and the world's major children's educational brands have cooperation We are one of the partners of Wal-Mart, Target and other supermarkets, so you can rest assured that we will provide quality products for global educational toy brands with the most professional OEM services so that children can grow up happily with the help of science.