UK Proposes Update to List of Designated Standards for Toys (EN 71-4, EN 71-15 and EN 71-16)
| Targeted audience | UK manufacturers, UK importers and their upstream providers, UK distributors |
| Products concerned | Toys |
| Key industries concerned with this insight | Toys |
| Application date | 22 October 2026 (proposed) |
| Main content or requirements | On 23 September 2026, the UK proposed to add EN 71-4:2020+A1:2025, EN 71-15:2025 and EN 71-16:2025 to the list of designated standards under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011 No. 1881). The previous version, EN 71-4:2020, was proposed to cease to be a designated standard on 15 March 2028 (about 1.5 years later) |
| Reference | Click here |
On 23 September 2026, the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) published Notice 0143/26 to propose an update to the references to the designated standards under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (UK TSR, S.I. 2011 No. 1881). The proposed update will affect standards EN 71-4, EN 71-15 and EN 71-16.
EN 71-4:2020+A1:2025 (experimental sets for chemistry and related activities), EN 71-15:2025 (formamide in foam toy materials (content)) and EN 71-16:2025 (certain chlorinated phosphorus flame retardants (TCEP, TCPP, TDCP) in toy materials), are proposed to be listed as designated standards under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011 No. 1881) on 22 October 2026.
The related previous version, EN 71-4:2020, is proposed to continue to be a designated standard until 14 March 2028. (about 1.5 years later).
Information on the three standards can be found in the previous Intertek Insights:
- EU Published EN 71-4:2020+A1:2025 on Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities
- EU Published Toy Test Methods EN 71-15:2025, EN 71-16:2025 and EN 71-17:2025
List of UK Toys Standards (Proposed to apply from 22 October 2026)
| No. | Designated Standard | Latest Standard | Title | Remark |
| 1 | EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 * | EN 71-1:2026 | Mechanical and physical properties | -- |
| 2 | EN 71-2:2020 | EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025 | Flammability | -- |
| 3 | EN 71-3:2019+A2:2024 (Or EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 until 15 June 2027) |
(same) | Migration of certain elements | -- |
| 4 | EN 71-4:2020+A1:2025 (Or EN 71-4:2020 until 14 March 2028) |
(same) | Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities | -- |
| 5 | EN 71-5:2015 | EN 71-5:2025 | Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets | -- |
| 6 | EN 71-7:2014+A3:2020 | EN 71-7:2025 | Finger paints | -- |
| 7 | EN 71-8:2018 | EN 71-8:2026 | Activity toys for domestic use | -- |
| 8 | EN 71-12:2016 ** | (same) | N-Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances | -- |
| 9 | EN 71-13:2021+A2:2024 (or EN 71-13:2021+A1:2022 until 15 June 2027) |
(same) | Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games | -- |
| 10 | EN 71-14:2018 | EN 71-14:2025 | Trampolines for domestic use | -- |
| 11 | EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020 *** | (same) | Electric toys | New version of EN IEC 62115 is under draft |
| 12 | EN 71-15:2025 | (same) | Formamide in foam toy materials (content) | -- |
| 13 | EN 71-16:2025 | (same) | Certain chlorinated phosphorus flame retardants (TCEP, TCPP, TDCP) in toy materials | -- |
| 14 | -- | EN 71-17:2025 | Certain isothiazolinones (MIT, CIT, BIT) in aqueous toy materials | -- |
| 15 | -- | EN 71-18:2024 | Phenol in aqueous (content) and polymeric (migration) toy materials | -- |
| 16 | -- | EN 71-19:2024 | Migration of bisphenol A from toy materials | -- |
| 17 | -- | EN 71-20:2025 | Microbiological safety of toys containing accessible aqueous media | -- |
| 18 | -- | EN 71-10:2005 | Organic chemical compounds - Sample preparation and extraction | -- |
| 19 | -- | EN 71-11:2005 | Organic chemical compounds - Methods of analysis | -- |
Note:
* As regards Clauses 3.19 (definition of “driving mechanism”) and 4.15.1 for wave rollers (a ride-on toy where the child is seated, the steering and propulsion of which are controlled with the feet, and which have wheels within reach during use), EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 does not confer a presumption of conformity with the essential safety requirements set out in Regulation 5(2) and Part I, Paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 of the UK TSR (S.I. 2011 No. 1881).
** The limit values in Point (a) of Table 2 of Clause 4.2 of EN 71-12:2016 (i.e., limits for elastomers toys intended for use by children under 36 months and intended or likely to be placed into the mouth) are lower than the limit values to be complied with set in Point 8 of Part III of Annex II to the UK TSR (S.I. 2011 No. 1881):
| Substance | Standard EN 71-12:2016 | UK TSR (S.I. 2011 No. 1881) |
| N-Nitrosamines | 0.01 mg/kg | 0.05 mg/kg |
| N-Nitrosatable | 0.1 mg/kg | 1 mg/kg |
*** Users of EN 62115 are encouraged to follow the additional voluntary measures below for any toys that contain a coin or button battery:
- For button and coin batteries - appropriate warnings on the packaging of toys, indicating the presence and hazards associated with such batteries, as well as actions to be taken in the event of a battery being swallowed or inserted into the body. As well as consideration for an appropriate graphical symbol to accompany these warnings.
- Where practical and appropriate placing a pictorial warning and/or hazard marking on toys containing a button or coin battery.
- Provision of information in the toy’s accompanying instruction manual (or on its packaging) of the symptoms of button or coin battery ingestion and the need to seek immediate medical attention in the event of such a suspected ingestion.
- Where coin or button batteries are supplied with a toy, and these are not pre-installed in the battery compartment; these batteries should be supplied in child resistant packaging and appropriate warning markings placed on this packaging.
- Using coin and button batteries that are durably and indelibly marked with a pictorial warning indicating they should be kept out of reach of children or vulnerable persons.
UK manufacturers and UK importers and their upstream providers are advised to conduct tests on toys with the new standards to assess conformity in advance.
Intertek China Hardlines labs are capable of providing you with testing services and technical support in compliance with the UK toys-related regulations and standards.
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Content you may be interested in:
EU Updates List of Harmonised Standards under Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC (TSD) (EN 71-4, EN 71-15 and EN 71-16)
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