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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Guidance

Guidance on Toy Safety

The Commission and the Expert Group on Toy Safety draw up guidance documents to assist manufacturers, importers, distributors, and public authorities in the interpretation and application of the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. The guidance documents are not legally binding but they express the views of the majority of the Expert Group's members.

 

Guidance documents

last update

N°1

Guidance document on scooters (432 kB)

05/10/2016

N°2

The guidance document on Community legislation applicable to floating seats has become obsolete, following the publication of the new guidance document No 7.

12/12/2023

N°3

The guidance document on the relationship between the Safety of Toys Directive and the Cadmium Directive (Directive 91/338/EEC) has become obsolete after the Court of Justice has given its judgment in case C-9/04

03/02/2003

N°4

Guidance document on grey zone problem: Is a specific product covered by the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC or not (198 kB)

15/10/2015

N°5

Guidelines on the treatment of 'grey zone' products - criteria to classify products consisting of miniatures to be assembled and painted and their support products (10 kB)

13/02/2003

N°6

Guidelines on the treatment of 'grey zone' products - criteria for differentiating dolls for adult collectors from toys (8 kB)

13/02/2003

N°7

NEW! Guidance document on toys and other products used in or on the water (3 MB)

12/12/2023

N°8

Guidance document on pools (10.1 MB)

28/01/2019

N°9

Guidance document on books (2 MB)

10/12/2013

N°10

Guidance document on musical instruments (1 MB)

26/02/2019

N°11

Guidance document on the classification of toys intended for children under 3 years of age

NEW! Guidance document on toys intended for children under 36 months of age or of 36 months and over (4 MB)

06/04/2009

13/06/2023

N°12

Guidance document on packaging (5 MB)

09/07/2012

N°13

Guidance document on crafts (544 kB)

19/04/2011

N°14

Guidance document on sports equipment (103 Kb)

18/01/2012

N°15

Guidance document on writing instruments and stationery (596 kB)

09/10/2012

N°16

Guidance document on electronic equipment (6 MB)

09/07/2012

N°17

Guidance document on disguise costumes (287 kB)

04/12/2012

N°18

Guidance document on puffer balls and similar toys (498 kB)

16/09/2019

N°19

Guidance document on soother holders (1 MB)

26/09/2019

N°20

Guidance document on decorative products and products for collectors (2 MB)

17/05/2021

 

Guideline on the interpretation of the concept 'which can be placed in the mouth' as laid down in the entry 52 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation 1907/2006 (386 kB)

08/01/2014

16/12/2021

The English version of the guide is expected to be revised on a regular basis and there will always be some delay before updated translations are available.
The version number is given on the front page of the guide (e.g. 'Version 1.3').

Please consult the English version to ensure that the translated version is up to date. Changes made between versions are listed after the table of contents.

  • Technical documentation guidance document (translations v1.5, pdf, 2 MB)

22/02/2016

Template of the EC Declaration of Conformity (27 kB)

13/07/2011

Overview of the warnings required by the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC in the different languages (162 kB)

12/09/2014

Overview of the national language requirements for warnings, information and documentation as foreseen by the Member States' transposition legislation of Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys (253 kB)

02/10/2014

Notes from market surveillance

The market surveillance authorities in charge of toy safety, known as the Administrative Cooperation (ADCO) group of the Expert Group on Toy Safety, has issued the notes below. These aim to help understand the approach of market surveillance authorities to specific issues. The approach respresents the majority view amongst the market surveillance authorities.

Soft-filled toys with sequins - 6 March 2019

Small magnetic balls and magnetic building kits – 12 December 2023

Recommendations and Protocols under Directive 2009/48/EC

The co-ordination group of notified bodies under the Toy Safety Directive, known as NB-Toys, has issued Recommendations and Protocols to help them fulfil their tasks. They are applied by the notified bodies on a voluntary basis.

Guidance for notified bodies

The Commission issued an interpretative document on the use by notified bodies of their name and number for activities not required by EU legislation.