Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys (Toy Safety Directive)
Products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age (toys).
Market: European Union. Legal basis: Directive 2009/48/EC. The table shows what the official pages state, with the wording and the date we read it. A row marked "Not stated" means the pages we read do not say; it does not mean there is no rule.
What the official pages state
| Question | What the official page states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age (toys). Matches products that: made for children. Further conditions: Products listed in Annex I are not toys; excluded toys: public playground equipment, public automatic playing machines, toy vehicles with combustion engines, toy steam engines, slings and catapults. Designed or intended for play by children under 14 is a judgement of the product's design/intended use; not every product for children is a toy. Toys must also comply with other applicable EU legislation. Official wording1. This Directive shall apply to products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age (hereinafter referred to as toys). | publications.europa.eu read 2026-10-03 |
| How conformity is shown | Depends on the product or standards (see the note) Self-verification (internal production control, Module A) is used if harmonised standards published in the OJ cover all relevant safety requirements and were applied. EC-type examination by a notified body is required where such standards do not exist, were not applied or only partly applied, were published with a restriction, or where the manufacturer considers third-party verification necessary. Official wording2. If the manufacturer has applied harmonised standards, the reference number of which has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union , covering all relevant safety requirements for the toy, it shall use the internal production control procedure | publications.europa.eu read 2026-10-03 |
| Mark and declaration | CE marking; EC declaration of conformity Manufacturer draws up the EC declaration of conformity (assuming responsibility for compliance) and affixes CE marking on the toy, an affixed label or the packaging, before placing on the market. Official wordingdraw up the EC Declaration of Conformity stating that the fulfilment of the essential safety requirements has been demonstrated. By drawing up this document, the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the compliance of the toy with the essential safety requirements | single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu read 2026-10-03 |
| Official fee | Not stated | — |
| Steps and documents | Included in the $49 checklist. See the checklist | — |