Toys must comply with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 in the UK. Even if you work from home and produce toys on a small scale, they still need to conform.
If you think you are making toys and you intend to sell these, then you must make sure that your product meets the essential safety requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
Toys are defined as products that are designed or intended (whether or not exclusively), for use in play for children under 14 years of age.
There are a number of items which may appear to be toys but that are exempt from the regulations. These include :
Producers must draw up the following documents and carry out safety and conformity assessments to comply :
PDF, 49.2kb, new windowTrading Standards EC Declaration of Conformity Example.
Word, 49.2kb, new windowEC Declaration of Conformity.
These documents must be kept for ten years after the day on which the toy is placed on the market.
Technical documentation must contain the following :
There are three key properties that toys must meet to be safe. They are :
Toys must have strength and stability.
There should be no sharp edges, spikes or points.
Any risk of injury from moving parts must be minimal.
Parts should not be detachable from the toy unless they are of a size that will prevent them from being swallowed.
The toy AND its packaging must not present a strangulation or suffocation risk.
Toys which children can enter must have an easily accessible exit.
Toys must not present a fire risk.
Toys must be clean and hygienic.
Toys must not present a health risk due to swallowing poisons. For example lead, cadmium and other heavy metals.
Hobbycraft recommends that you carry out regular screening checks of your finished toys to make sure that no risks are present. These checks could include labelling and that small parts are securely fixed. You should keep a record of any checks you carry out.
Finally, your toy must carry appropriate markings and warnings to reduce any risk. This is most important where a toy is unsuitable for a child under three years old. The following symbol is needed also :
All new toys should also carry :
You can get more information and help from your Local Trading Standards Authority. You may also find the following useful :