Australia & New Zealand
AS/NZS ISO 8124 is the adopted toy safety standard, closely aligned with the ISO 8124 series.
Toy Safety Standards by Market: A Buyer's Reference
If you import toys, the standard that applies is set by where you sell, not where you buy. This reference explains which standards apply in the major markets, what each one actually covers, and how to read a test report well enough to know whether it covers the product you are buying.
European Union
EU: EN 71 and CE Marking
The EN 71 series is the harmonised European standard for toy safety. It is published in several parts, and the parts most relevant to general toy imports are Part 1 covering mechanical and physical properties, Part 2 covering flammability, and Part 3 covering migration of certain elements from toy materials.
Toys placed on the EU market carry CE marking, supported by a Declaration of Conformity drawn up by the manufacturer or importer. Electrically operated toys additionally reference the EN 62115 standard. A test report that cites EN 71 without naming the parts tested is less useful than one that names them.
United States
US: ASTM F963, CPSIA, and the CPC
ASTM F963 is the consumer safety specification for toys in the United States. It addresses mechanical hazards, flammability, and heavy metals in accessible materials, and it is the standard referenced by the CPSC's own toy regulations.
Separately, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requires children's products sold in the US to be tested by a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory and to be accompanied by a Children's Product Certificate. The certificate is issued by the manufacturer or importer based on that testing. ASTM F963 and CPSIA work together: one defines what to test, the other governs who must test and what paperwork follows.
China
China: GB 6675
The GB 6675 series is China's national standard for toy safety and is structured similarly to EN 71, covering mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and migration of certain elements. Toys manufactured for the domestic Chinese market are tested against it.
If you are exporting rather than importing into China, GB 6675 may still appear in supplier documentation because it is what the factory tested against. That is fine, but it does not substitute for the standard your own market requires.
Other Markets
Other Markets Worth Knowing
Canada
The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and its Toys Regulations govern toy safety for the Canadian market.
Japan
The ST Mark, administered by the Japan Toy Association, is a widely recognised voluntary safety mark.
United Kingdom
Post-Brexit the UK retains EN 71-derived requirements under its own conformity framework, so check UK-specific marking rather than assuming CE suffices.
Reading Reports
How to Read a Test Report
Three things tell you whether a report is worth anything. First, the sample name — it should describe the actual product you are buying, not a generic category. Second, the standard cited, including the parts tested. Third, the date, because reports expire and standards get revised.
A report that names none of these is not evidence of compliance. This is the check that separates suppliers who can document what they sell from suppliers who can only assert it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which toy safety standard applies to my market?
It depends on where you sell. The EU works to EN 71 with CE marking, the US to ASTM F963 and CPSIA, China to GB 6675, and Australia and New Zealand to AS/NZS ISO 8124. If you sell into several markets you may need coverage under more than one standard.
Is a CE mark enough to sell in the United States?
No. CE marking addresses EU requirements. The US requires testing to ASTM F963 by a CPSC-accepted laboratory, plus a Children's Product Certificate under CPSIA.
How long is a toy test report valid?
Reports are point-in-time evidence, and standards are revised periodically. Many buyers and marketplaces treat reports older than one to two years as needing renewal, particularly for children's products.
What is a Children's Product Certificate?
The CPC is a document the manufacturer or importer issues for children's products sold in the US, certifying that the product was tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory and meets applicable requirements. It must be based on actual testing, not self-declaration alone.
Does one test report cover an entire product series?
Not necessarily. Testing is performed on a specific sample, and coverage extends only to products that match that sample in material, construction, and paint. Colourway variations sometimes fall outside the tested scope — check the sample description on the report.
Where can I see the documentation for products I order?
We provide the applicable authorization and test documentation with your quotation so you can review scope and validity before committing. See our authorization and compliance page for what we hold.
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Send us the brands, series, and quantities you need. We reply with availability and a quotation, along with the authorization and test documentation for every line.