Toy safety is the practice of ensuring that toys, especially those made for children, are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards. In many countries, commercial toys must be able to pass safety tests in order to be sold. In the U.S., some toys must meet national standards, while other toys may not have to meet a defined safety standard. In countries where standards exist, they exist in order to prevent accidents, but there have still been some high-profile product recalls after such problems have occurred. The danger is often not due to faulty design; usage and chance both play a role in injury and death incidents as well.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, March 2001. "Toy Safety Factsheet". Accessed 8 January 2007.
Potential hazards
Common scenarios include: Ingestion of magnetic toys Choking or aspiration of small parts of the toy Cuts by sharp parts of the toy Motor toy vehicles incidents involving hair Chemical substance Strangulation from toys with string Migration from dangerous chemicals
Accident frequency Accidents involving toys are quite common, with 40,000 happening each year in the United Kingdom (according to 1998 figuresDepartment of Trade and Industry, 2000 (using 1998 data). "Home Accident Surveillance System, 22nd Annual report". - data has not been collected in the UK since 2003European Injury database), accounting for less than 1% of annual accidents. In 2005 in the U.S., 20 children under 15 years of age died in incidents associated with toys, and an estimated 202,300 children under 15 were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with toys, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.CSPC, 5 October 2006. "Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries, Calendar Year 2005". Accessed 10 January 2007. In the European Union, no fatal accidents have been reported in the European Injury Database since 2002.Unknown In Europe, home and leisure data was examined concerning injuries caused by falls to a lower level among 0-4-year-olds from Austria, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden. It was found that children′s use of several product categories was closely related to age. Children′s furniture account for between 21% (Netherlands) and 34% (Sweden) of the injuries from falls to a lower level in the first living year, but decreased with increasing age in all countries. The same pattern applied to strollers. In contrast, injuries due to falls involving playground equipment increased with age to reach between 13 (Greece) and 34 (Netherlands) percent of injuries from falls to a lower level among 4-year-olds. Bicycles also increase with age, reaching between 4 (Netherlands) and 17 (Denmark) percent among 4-year-olds.
Safety standards Distinction must be drawn between regulations and voluntary safety standards. From the table below, it can be seen that many regions model their safety standards on the EU's EN 71 standard, either directly, or through adoption of the ISO 8124 standard which itself is modelled on EN 71.
RegionStandard(s) and Regulations (Source: ICTI Toy Safety Standards) International ISO 8124-1. Safety of toys. Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties. ISO 8124-2. Safety of toys. Part 2: Flammability. ISO 8124-3. Safety of toys. Part 3: Migration of certain elements. ISO 8124-4. Safety of toys. Part 4: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use. ISO 8124-5. Safety of toys. Part 5: Determination of total concentration of certain elements in toys. ISO 8124-6. Safety of toys. Part 6: Certain phthalate esters in toys and children's products. ISO 8124-7. Safety of toys. Part 7: Requirements and test methods for finger paints. ISO/TR 8124-8. Safety of toys. Part 8: Age determination guidelines. European Union EN 71-1. Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties. EN 71-2. Safety of toys - Part 2: Flammability. EN 71-3. Safety of toys - Part 3: Migration of certain elements. EN 71-4. Safety of toys - Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities. EN 71-5. Safety of toys - Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets. EN 71-8. Safety of toys - Part 8: Activity toys for domestic use. EN 71-12. Safety of toys - Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances. EN 62115. Safety of electric toys. Argentina NM 300-1. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 1: Propiedades generales, mecánicas y físicas. NM 300-2. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 2: Inflamabilidad. NM 300-3. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 3: Migración de ciertos elementos. NM 300-4. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 4: Juegos de experimentos químicos y actividades relacionadas. NM 300-5. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 5: Juguetes químicos distintos de los juegos de experimentos. NM 300-6. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 6: Seguridad de los juguetes eléctricos. Australia AS/NZS ISO 8124.1-2002 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 1: Mechanical and physical property requirements AS/NZS ISO 8124 2-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 2: Flammability requirements AS/NZS ISO 8124.3-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 3 Migration of certain elements requirements AS 8124.4-2003 Safety of toys: (safety requirements) Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry requirements AS 8124.5-2003 Safety of toys (safety requirements) Part 5: Chemical requirements AS 8124.7-2003 Safety of toys - finger paints - requirements and test methods Brazil NM 300-1. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 1: Propriedades gerais, mecânicas e físicas. NM 300-2. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 2: Inflamabilidade. NM 300-3. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 3: Migração de certos elementos. NM 300-4. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 4: Jogos de experimentos químicos e atividades relacionadas. NM 300-5. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 5: Jogos químicos distintos de jogos de experimentos. NM 300-6. Segurança de brinquedos. Parte 6: Segurança de brinquedos elétricos. Canada Technical Standards Safety Act and Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Regulation Hazardous Products Act R.S. c. H-3 Hazardous Products (Toys) Regulations C.R.C., c. 931 Hazardous Products (Pacifiers) Regulations: "Knob-Like" Pacifiers Policy Regulations Respecting the Advertising, Sale and Importation of Hazardous Products (Pacifiers) under Hazardous Products Act A Guide to Safety Requirements for Toys Toys: Age Classification Guidelines China ISO 8124.1:2002 Safety of Toys - Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties GB 9832-93 Safety and Quality of Sewn, Plush and Cloth Toys GB 5296.5-96 Labeling and Instructions for Toys Hong Kong Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance (in compliance with ASTM F963, ICTI or EN-71)IndiaSafety of Toys
IS 9873 (Part 1): 2020 : Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties IS 9873 (Part 2): 2017 : Flammability IS 9873 (Part 3): 2020 : Migration of certain elements. IS 9873 (Part 4): 2017 : Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use. IS 9873 (Part 7): 2017 : Requirements and Test Methods for Finger Paints IS 9873 (Part 9): 2017 : Certain phthalate esters in toys and children's products. IS 15644: 2006 : Safety of Electric Toys Jamaica JS 90:1983 Jamaican Standard Specification for Safety of toys and playthings Japan Japan Toy Safety Standard, ST2012
Part 1—Mechanical and physical properties Part 2—Flammability Part 3—Chemical properties Malaysia MS EN 71 Part 1. Mechanical and Physical Properties MS ISO 8124-2. Flammability MS EN 71 Part 3. Migration of Certain Elements MS EN 71 Part 4. Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities MS EN 71 Part 5. Chemical Toys (Sets) Other than Experimental Sets MexicoNOM 015/10-SCFI/SSA-1994 Toy Safety and Commercial Information - Toy and School Material Safety. Limits on the Bioavailability of Metals used on Articles with Paints and Dyes. Chemical Specifications and Test Methods. New Zealand AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2002 Safety of Toys - Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties (ISO 8124.1:2000, MOD) AS/NZS ISO 8124.2:2003 Safety of Toys - Flammability (ISO 8124.2: 1994, MOD) AS/NZS ISO 8124.3:2003 Safety of toys - Migration of certain elements Saudi Arabia SSA 765-1994 Playground Equipment Part I: General Safety Requirements SSA 1063-1994 Toys and General Safety Requirements SSA 1064-1995 Method of Testing Part 1: Mechanical and Chemical Tests SSA 1065-1995 Method of Testing Toys Part 2: Flammability SSA 1322-1997 Low Power Radio Frequency Devices Singapore Safety of Toys:
SS 474 PT. 1: 2000 Part 1: Mechanical and Physical Properties SS 474 PT. 2: 2000 Part 2: Flammability SS 474 PT. 3: 2000 Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements SS 474 PT. 4: 2000 Part 4: Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities SS 474 PT. 5: 2000 Part 5: Chemical Toys (sets) Other Than Experimental Sets SS 474 PT. 6: 2000 Part 6: Graphical Symbol for Age Warning labelling South Africa SABS ISO 8124-1:2000 Safety of Toys - Part 1: Safety Aspects Related to Mechanical and Physical Properties SABS ISO 8124-2:1994 Flammability SABS ISO 8124-3:1997 Migration of Certain Elements Taiwan Central National Standard CNS 4797, 4798 Toy Safety Standard Central National Standard CNS 12940 for Strollers and Carriages Toy Goods Labeling Criteria Thailand Thai Industrial Standard for Toys TIS 685-2540 Part 1: General Requirements (1997) Compulsory Stnd. Part 2: Packages and Labeling (1997) Part 3: Methods of Test & Analysis(1997) United States Mandatory Toy Safety Standard:
Code of Federal Regulations, Commercial Practices 16, Part 1000 to End (16CFR)"TITLE 16—Commercial Practices, CHAPTER II—CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, SUBCHAPTER B—CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS". Accessed 24 February 2018. Title 15 — Commerce and Foreign Trade Chapter XI — Technology Administration, Department of Commerce Part 1150 — Marking of Toy, Look-alike and Imitation Firearms U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Engineering Test Manual for Rattles U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Engineering Test Manual for Pacifiers U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Labeling Requirements for Art Materials Presenting Chronic Hazards (LHAMA) U.S. Child Safety Protection Act, Small Parts Hazard Warning Rule and Rules for Reporting Choking Incidents Age Determination Guidelines: Relating Children's Ages to Toy Characteristics and Play Behavior (September 2002) ASTM F963-07 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety (effective February 2009) ASTM F963-08 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety Active revised version of ASTM F963-23 introduced in October 2023. Voluntary Toy Safety Standard: ASTM F963-07e1 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety ASTM F734-84 (89/94) Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Chests ASTM F1148-97a Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Home Playground Equipment ASTM F1313-90 Standard Specification for Volatile N-Nitrosamine Levels in Rubber Nipples on Pacifiers ANSI Z315.1-1996 American National Standard for Tricycles - Safety Requirements ANSI/UL 696, Ninth Edition Standard for Safety Electric ToysUruguay NM 300-1. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 1: Propiedades generales, mecánicas y físicas. NM 300-2. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 2: Inflamabilidad. NM 300-3. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 3: Migración de ciertos elementos. NM 300-4. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 4: Juegos de experimentos químicos y actividades relacionadas. NM 300-5. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 5: Juguetes químicos distintos de los juegos de experimentos. NM 300-6. Seguridad de los Juguetes. Parte 6: Seguridad de los juguetes eléctricos.