The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011

Sets essential safety requirements for toys placed on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers must carry out a safety assessment and a conformity assessment (self-declaration or Type examination), draw up a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, affix the UK marking, and provide warnings and traceability information.

Read the official text

Applies to

Toys placed on the market in Great Britain. 'Toys' are products designed or intended (whether or not exclusively) for use in play by children under 14 years old. Some products are excluded (for example playground equipment for public use, toy vehicles with combustion engines, slings and catapults, and the products listed in Schedule 1).

Key obligations

01Toys must meet the essential safety requirements (regulation 5), including the particular safety requirements, before being placed on the market; manufacturers must design and manufacture toys in accordance with them (regulation 11).source
02Before placing a toy on the market the manufacturer must carry out a safety assessment (regulation 12) and the applicable conformity assessment procedure (regulation 13).source
03The manufacturer must draw up a declaration of conformity (regulations 15-16, Schedule 3) and the toy must bear the UK marking (regulation 18).source
04The manufacturer must draw up technical documentation (regulation 17, Schedule 4) and keep it and the declaration of conformity for 10 years.source
05Toys must carry information identifying the toy (e.g. type, batch, serial or model number) and the manufacturer (name, registered trade name or trade mark, and contact address) (regulation 19); importers must also add their name and postal address.source
06Instructions for use, safety information and warnings must accompany the toy (regulation 20); information on hazards and risks must be marked in English in a clearly visible, easily legible, understandable and accurate manner, with specific warning requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months.source

Conformity routes

Self-declaration (internal production control, Module A)Where the manufacturer has applied standards covering all the essential safety requirements for the toy (as made, regulation 13 refers to harmonised standards; in the current GB text these are designated standards).source
Type examination by an approved body (plus conformity to type, Module C)Where standards covering all the essential safety requirements do not exist, have not been applied or have been applied only in part, have been published with a restriction, or where the manufacturer considers the nature, design, construction or purpose of the toy necessitates third-party verification (regulations 13-14).source

Documentation

Declaration of conformityUK DoC if UKCA marked, EU DoC if CE marked; keep for 10 years (Schedule 3 sets the content).source
Technical documentation (technical file)Drawn up under regulation 17 and Schedule 4; keep with the declaration of conformity for 10 years and make available to enforcement authorities on request.source

Marking requirements

Toys placed on the GB market must bear the UK marking (regulation 18); manufacturers placing toys on the GB market on the basis of self-declaration of conformity can affix either the UKCA marking or the CE marking.source
Until 31 December 2027 the UKCA marking may be affixed to a label rather than directly to the toy.source
Warnings and information on hazards and risks must be marked in English in a clearly visible, easily legible, understandable and accurate manner.source

Testing standards

Harmonised and designated standards lists change over time: confirm the currently cited version before testing.

EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018EN 71-3 (unverified)EN 62115 (unverified)

Key dates

2011-08-19The Regulations came into force (made 24 July 2011).source
2027-12-31Last day the UKCA marking may be affixed to a label rather than directly to the toy.source

Penalties

Offences may result in unlimited fines (England and Wales), or of up to £10,000 (Scotland), or a maximum prison term of 6 months, or both.source

Further guidance

Applies to these product types

Frequently asked

What counts as a toy under the Regulations?+

A product designed or intended (whether or not exclusively) for use in play by children under 14 years old. Some products are excluded, such as public playground equipment, toy vehicles with combustion engines, slings and catapults, and the items listed in Schedule 1.

Do all toys need third-party (approved body) testing?+

No. If you have applied designated standards covering all the essential safety requirements you can self-declare using internal production control. Type examination by an approved body is required where such standards do not exist, were not (fully) applied, were published with a restriction, or where you consider third-party verification necessary.

Can I use the CE mark instead of UKCA on toys sold in Great Britain?+

Yes - GOV.UK guidance states that manufacturers placing toys on the GB market on the basis of self-declaration of conformity can affix either the UKCA marking or the CE marking. Until 31 December 2027 the UKCA mark may also be applied via a label.

What warnings does my toy need?+

Instructions, safety information and warnings must accompany the toy, in English, clearly visible and legible. Specific warning requirements apply to toys intended for children under 36 months, and Schedule 5 sets out required warnings.

What information must appear on the toy itself?+

A type, batch, serial or model number (or other identifying element), plus the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark and a contact address. Importers must also add their own name and postal address.

Check how this applies to your product

Run the full checker to see which regulations apply to your exact product, market and features.

Open the checker