United Kingdom (GB) - Toy
UKCA and compliance requirements for toy
Products designed or intended for play by children under 14 (EU/UK definition). One of the most heavily regulated consumer categories, with mandatory third-party testing in the US.
For example: plush toy, building blocks, RC car, electronic learning tablet.
The forChildren attribute is inherent to this category, so it adds nothing. Electric/electronic toys must operate at 24 V or below in the EU/UK (EN 62115); a mains adapter is a separate LVD product — the LVD entries under 'mains' refer to that power supply. Battery-operated toys are EEE, which is why the battery attribute also pulls in EMC/RoHS/WEEE; toys with only simple motors may be outside FCC Part 15 — verify. US: ASTM F963 is mandatory (16 CFR 1250), plus third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab, a Children's Product Certificate and permanent tracking labels under CPSIA. Connected toys are squarely within UK PSTI scope, and the EU CRA will apply from December 2027. Toys that contain button cells must meet EN 62115 / ASTM F963 battery-compartment requirements. Chemical limits: EU Toy Safety Directive Annex II plus REACH; a new EU Toy Safety Regulation replacing Directive 2009/48/EC is progressing through the legislative process — verify its adoption status.
Base requirements3 instruments
The general safety net for consumer products in Great Britain: no producer may place a product on the market unless it is safe, and producers and distributors must monitor products and notify authorities about unsafe ones. In Northern Ireland these Regulations were superseded on 13 December 2024 by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.
Key obligations
- 01No producer shall place a product on the market unless the product is a safe product (regulation 5) - one which under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use presents no risk, or only the minimum risk compatible with the product's use.source
- 02Producers must provide consumers with the relevant information to enable them to assess the risks and take precautions, and enable traceability by indicating the producer's name and address on the product or its packaging.source
- 03Producers must monitor marketed products: sample-test them, investigate and where necessary keep a register of complaints, and keep distributors informed of the results.source
- 04Distributors must act with due care to help ensure only safe products are supplied and must not supply products that, as a professional, they know or ought to know to be dangerous (regulation 8).source
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.
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
UKCA is Great Britain's product conformity marking, introduced after EU exit for goods that previously used CE marking. Since 1 October 2024, CE marking is also recognised in Great Britain with no end date for most goods covered by the framework, so businesses can generally use either marking.
Key obligations
- 01Before placing a product in scope of the regime on the GB market, carry out the conformity assessment required by the relevant product regulation and affix the UKCA marking — or the CE marking, which businesses have the flexibility to use in place of UKCA under the continued recognition policy.source
- 02Draw up a UK declaration of conformity and maintain technical documentation (technical files and test reports) demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Apply the UKCA marking in its standard, recognisable form, at least 5mm in height (unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation), and ensure it is easily visible, legible and indelible.source
- 04Until 11pm on 31 December 2027, the UKCA marking may alternatively be placed on a label affixed to the product or on a document accompanying the product (certain sectors such as marine, medical devices, rail and construction products have their own specific rules).source
If your product also...
Extra regulations triggered by specific features
Has radio / wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, RFID/NFC)
Contains a battery
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012
Plugs into mains power (50–1000 V AC)
Connects to the internet / runs updatable software
Documents you will need
Deduplicated across the regulations above
- Traceability and monitoring recordsNo declaration of conformity or technical file is required. Producers should be able to evidence traceability (name and address on product or packaging), sample testing, complaint investigation and, where necessary, a complaints register.source
- 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
- UK declaration of conformityMust be drawn up before placing goods on the GB market; under the recognition provisions it can list compliance with the relevant EU legislation.source
- Technical documentationTechnical files and test reports demonstrating conformity must be maintained; retention periods are set by each product regulation (typically 10 years).source
Frequently asked
Does GPSR 2005 require UKCA marking or a declaration of conformity?+
No. It is a general safety-net regulation with no conformity marking, declaration of conformity or technical file. Your obligations are that the product is safe, that consumers get the information they need, that you can trace products (name and address on the product or packaging), and that you monitor and notify.
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.
My product is CE marked — do I also need UKCA to sell in Great Britain?+
For most goods covered by the UKCA/CE regime (electrical, EMC, radio, toys, machinery and similar), no. Since 1 October 2024 the government recognises CE marking for the GB market with no end date, so you can use CE, UKCA, or both. Check your specific product area though — sectors like medical devices, construction products, marine, rail and unmanned aircraft have separate arrangements.
Other markets, same product
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