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Compliance & Testing for Toys
Safety and regulations are paramount when developing a new toy. Only accredited laboratories issue official reports. We plan the correct test program, align your factory and chosen lab, reduce surprises (like per-color chemical testing), and keep results mapped to your PRD. Typical lab timing runs ~1-2 weeks for basic non-electronic toys and ~3-5+ weeks when electrical or radio rules (FCC/RED) are involved. Don't forget potential retest fees and extra sample counts when colors/materials multiply.
What we do
Plan & scope
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Map your toy to the right clauses (EN 71 / ASTM F963 /CPSIA / BS EN 71; add EN IEC 62115 for electric; add FCC/RED for radio)
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Sample strategy: combine materials/colors where acceptable, composite testing when possible
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Pre-screens: magnets, battery-door torque, small-parts cylinder, sound checks
Coordinate labs
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Shortlist accredited labs, obtain quotes & lead-times
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Create the sample plan, ship & track, manage retests if any
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Align artwork & labels (warnings, CE/UKCA/CPC/DoC as applicable)
Documentation
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Assemble Technical File (EU/UK), Declaration of Conformity (EU/UK), and CPC (US)
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Maintain traceability of materials/colors and lot data
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Deliver a final compliance pack for production
Note: Awen Hollek supports planning and coordination. Testing is performed by accredited laboratories.
What to expect - by market & category
EU (CE)
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EN 71-1 Mechanical/physical
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EN 71-2 Flammability
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EN 71-3 Migration of elements (chemistry)
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ENIEC 62115 Electrical toy safety (if applicable)
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RED for radio/EMC (if wireless)
US & UK
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US: ASTM F963 + CPSIA (lead & phthalates)
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UK: BS EN 71 series; BS EN IEC 62115 for electric
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Radio: FCC (US) / UK radio rules (aligned to
RED principles)
Note: The information presented here is for reference. A full lab inquiry is always necessary to determine which tests are required for your target markets, toy type, and age grade.
Non-electronic plastic toys
EU: EN 71-1/-21-3 - US:
ASTM F963 + CPSIA - UK:
BS EN 71-1/-2/-3
Wireless/RC
EN 71 + EN IEC 62115 (if electric)
+ RED in EU; ASTM F963/CPSIA + FCC in US; UK equivalents.
Magnetic toys
Magnet flux/index limits & warnings (EN 71-1/ ASTM F963 /
BS EN 71-1).
Plush/soft toys
Seam strength/small parts, flammability, chemistry as applicable (EN 71/ ASTM F963 /
CPSIA / BS EN 71).
Battery toys (no radio)
Electrical toy safety
(EN IEC 62115 / BS EN IEC 62115) plus EN 71/ASTM/CPSIA checks.
Sound-producing
Acoustic limits/measurement clauses within EN 71-1 and
ASTM F963; check age grade & method.
Packaging artwork must be submitted to the lab to evaluate if all warnings and compliance logos are present.
Slime and compounds are particularly difficult to pass in the EU due to stricter chemical limits.
Plush toys face rigorous checks; this is a flammability test example.
Costs & timelines (reference only)
⚠️ Indicative only: final lab quotes depend on design, materials/colors, and lab capacity. We'll confirm scope before testing.
Typical timelines
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Non-electronic toys: ~1-2 weeks
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Electric toys (safety + chemistry): ~2-4 weeks
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Wireless toys (add radio/EMC): ~3-5 weeks
Add time for retests, color/material multipliers, or lab backlogs.
Ballpark lab costs
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EU EN 71-1/-2/-3 bundles: low hundreds to low thousands USD
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US ASTM F963 + CPSIA basics: similar order of magnitude
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Electric toy safety (EN IEC 62115): projects commonly in the thousands
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Radio (FCC/RED): several thousands+ depending on radio path
We'll pursue cost-savers (composite testing where acceptable, pre-certified radio modules, smart sample plans).
FAQs
Do you do the testing?
How many samples do we need?
Can we cut cost/time?
Can we test in parallel with tooling?
Who pays/ships to labs?
What if we fail a test?
Which labs do you use?