Approximately 500 toy samples are examined annually at the LSL. It has been found that the physical and mechanical properties of toys in particular can pose an acute risk to children's health. With the help of special actions, certain toys are tested in a targeted manner:

Focus action "Carnival costumes - azo dyes and flammability".

Focus action "Soap bubbles and finger paints".

*safety deficiencies, e.g. excessive noise in toys, excessive kinetic energy (e.g. in projectile toys), bacterial contamination (e.g. contaminated bubble solutions), technical deficiencies (e.g. detachable parts), etc.
**Toy ordinance, toy identification ordinance, LMIV, misleading
***EC Declaration of Conformity, Traceability

Since it is known that babies and toddlers like to put everything in their mouths, toys for children under the age of 3, for example, must not contain any small parts that can be swallowed and pose a suffocation risk. According to EN 71 (European Standard "Safety of Toys"), such toys and detachable parts of toys must not fit into a specially standardised small parts test cylinder based on a child's throat. Toys for children under the age of 3 must meet many other special requirements, all of which are routinely checked. Cords may only have a certain length so that small children cannot strangle themselves with them, the filling of cuddly toys must not have any parts that could present a risk of injury, cooling bite-rings must be sufficiently tight and firm so that they cannot be bitten on or through by the small ones, the toy must not contain any small balls or suction cups, which in turn could present a risk of suffocation, and much more.

Toys for children from the age of 3 must also meet many different requirements, depending of course on the respective toy category, in order to be considered safe. Toys for slightly older children may contain small parts, but must be accompanied by a clear and appropriate indication that the toy is not suitable for children under the age of three, together with a brief indication of the hazards giving rise to this restriction. In the case of projectile toys (e.g. toy pistols), it shall be examined whether the toy complies with the kinetic energy limits. If this energy is too high, there is a risk of injury. Thus it can go in the wahrsten sense of the word in´s eye if children shoot the small plastic balls one on the other while playing. In the case of bullet toys with suction cup arrows, it is particularly important to check that the suction cups are attached firmly enough, as easily detached suction cups pose a suffocation hazard.

Furthermore, the sound pressure level of acoustic toys - such as toy mobile phones - is checked, as toys that are too loud can cause hearing damage. Toys intended to carry the child's weight - such as toy bicycles and scooters - are tested for strength and construction. Among other things, these must be designed in such a way that children cannot squeeze their fingers between moving parts when playing. Compliance with requirements that apply generally, i.e. to all toys, is also monitored. This includes, for example, that toys must not have sharp edges or tips that could pose a risk of injury.

In addition to checking the physical and chemical properties, flammability tests are also carried out. For example, carnival costumes for children must either not be flammable or they may only burn so slowly that in an emergency, i.e. when the costume has caught fire, sufficient time is available to undress without the child being exposed to the risk of burns.

Consumers are informed in the media about such dangerous toys by appropriate product warnings. If toys pose a serious risk and other Member States may also be affected, a Europe-wide notification is made in the so-called RAPEX system (Rapid Exchange of Information System - the EU's rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer goods, with the exception of food, medicines and medical devices).
See Service Product Warnings.

A producer is a natural or legal person that produces a toy or allows it to be developed or made and the toy is sold on the market under the producer’s name or a specific brand.

Manufacturer’s Obligations

• Guarantee that the toy is safe (that it complies with the Toy Regulation of 2011) 
• Conduct safety and conformity Evaluations 
• Produce and store technical documentation (10 years)
• Display and store  EC Conformity Declaration (10 years) 
• Affix CE mark 
• Ensure conformity for mass production 
• Take all necessary samples and conduct all necessary tests 
• Detail all complaints, non-conforming products and producer recalls 
• Affix all identification marks 
• Add product instructions and safety Information 
• Have all information and documentation available for authorities making reasoned requests 
• Cooperate with authorities to prevent hazards

Bringing a Product to Market

The following steps must be followed when placing a new toy on the market, regardless of the amounts in which it should be sold:

• Find out if the product is actually a toy (some toys fall into a grey area – e.g. scooters that can be toys or sports equipment) 
• Establish which age group the toy is appropriate for. For toys for children under the age of 3 such as baby rattles, teething rings, soft toys etc. additional requirements may have to be taken into account in regards to physical properties 
• Carry out safety tests – i.e. create a list of which chemical, physical/mechanical, electronic, flammability, hygiene and radioactive hazards could occur and how high the level of exposure could be. 
  
  For example, soft toys:
• Chemical hazards: e.g. azo dye substances in materials, exposure level – high (intensive skin contact) 
• Physical/mechanical hazards: e.g. removable small parts (sown-on eyes), exposure  level -- high 
• Electronic hazards; none (there can be soft, cuddly toys that are battery driven and can make animal noises )
• Flammability hazards: materials can catch fire, exposure – medium 
• Hygiene hazards: materials can get dirty – medium 
• Radioactive hazards: None 
• The conformity evaluation required, i.e. the evidence that the toy complies with the requirements of the Toy Safety Regulation and the hazards identified are “under control”.   There are a number of options: normally, the manufacturer checks whether the toy meets the harmonised standards (this is an internal production control). The requirements for toys are detailed in EN 71 (“Safety of Toys”), which consists of parts 1 to 14. Part 1 deals with physical/mechanical properties and also contains special requirements for toys for children under the age of 3. If the producer does not follow these norms or the toy displays potential hazards not covered under the harmonised standards, then an EC Construction Plan examination must be carried out by a notified body.  

Tips for Small Companies: Information on Materials Collected from Suppliers

Norms can only be purchased. Laboratory tests for all hazards, especially those related to chemical properties, are costly. If using soft toy materials in different colours, each of these colours must be tested for azo dyes, heavy metals etc. It is, therefore, recommended that small firms get certification from their suppliers for all the materials used for such “simple” toys as soft, cuddly toys to prove that the company is following the Toy Safety Regulation of 2011 in regards to the chemical properties of their products. All materials must be taken into consideration here: not just the materials used, but also threads and fillings. Afterwards, the finished toy must be checked in line with EN71-1 (mechanical/physical properties) and BN 71-2 (flammability).    

If it can be proven that all requirements are fulfilled, then

• Affix CE marks
• Affix all other labelling elements (as required: warnings, instructions, name and contact details of producer, identification marks e.g. batch numbers) 
• Print and store EC conformity declaration (how this show look can be found in Annex 3 of the Toy Regulation 2011) 
• Print and store technical documentation (see Annex 4 of the Toy Regulation 2011)

Information and Examinations

The examples given are only examples and are not a full list of all possible procedures. The extent of the tests necessary depends on each toy individually. We would be happy to consult you, if you require more information. 

Toy examinations are carried out by AGES and other different institutions: List of Institutions. Contact our institute in Linz for further information. Meetings can be arranged on +43 50 555-41730 and Contact.