EU CEN Updates Standards for Toys: Migration of Certain Elements, and Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games

Vol .1455 | 03 Feb 2025

EN71 Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has published the updated toy safety standard, EN 71-3: 2019+A2: 2024, Safety of Toys – Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements. 

This standard is scheduled to take effect in June 2025, replacing the current version, EN 71-3: 2019+A1: 2021.

The latest version includes several key updates:

• The use of the CEN/TS 17973:2023 related to ‘Safety of toys - Categorization of slime type materials’ as a support to the categorization of products with slime-like properties into category I (dry-brittle, powder-like or pliable) or category II (liquid or sticky) toy materials; slime as an example of a category II toy material has been removed from Table 1 - Cross-reference table for determining category.
• The rationale for calculating migration limits for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), based on total chromium migration, has been further explained.
• The rationale for the determination of tin in migration solutions to check the presence of certain tin compounds (inorganic and organic tin) has been detailed.
• The dewaxing step in the pre-treatment process has been removed.
• There are revisions and updates to the testing methods for test portions and composite materials.

This standard will be given the status of a national standard by June 2025 and conflicting national standards are to be withdrawn by this date at the latest.

To give presumption of conformity to the requirements of the Directive 2009/48/EC on toy safety, the standard should be harmonized once accepted by the European Commission and by publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU).

EN71 Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games

In addition, the CEN has also published an updated amendment to EN71-13: 2021+A2:2024, Safety of toys – Part 13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games.

The latest amendment includes the following key updates:

• A new reference document for the safety of Slime Toys: CEN/TS 17973:2023 ‘Safety of toys – Categorization of slime type materials’.
• It also adds a reference to ISO 8124-8 for appropriate age grading of toys.
• Section 5.2.3 defines options for child-resistant containers, which must either meet EN ISO 8137 or must comply with either A or B Closure Test requirements included in Annex E of the standard.

This standard will be given the status of a national standard by May 2025, with conflicting national standards being withdrawn by this date at the very latest.

To give presumption of conformity to the requirements of the Directive 2009/48/EC on toy safety, the standard should be harmonized once accepted by the European Commission and by publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU).

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