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EN71-3: What It Is, Why It Matters, and Your Responsibilities as a Toy Manufacturer

If you’re making or selling toys in the UK or EU, you’ll quickly come across EN71-3. It sounds like another bit of confusing red tape, but it’s actually one of the most important safety standards you need to understand and comply with. Here’s a clear breakdown of what EN71-3 means, why it’s in place, and what your responsibilities are as a toy manufacturer.


Lab technician's gloved hand holding a rack of test tubes in a bright, modern lab. Shelves and equipment visible in the blurred background.

What is EN71-3?

EN71-3 is part of the EN71 series of toy safety standards that manufacturers in the UK and EU must follow. Specifically, EN71-3 deals with the migration of certain chemical elements. In plain terms, it checks how much of a chemical can “leach out” from a toy if a child sucks, chews, or swallows it.


The standard covers a long list of elements, including:

  • Lead

  • Cadmium

  • Chromium

  • Mercury

  • Arsenic

  • Barium

  • And many more


Toys don’t have to be completely free of these substances (they exist naturally in some materials), but EN71-3 sets strict limits on how much can transfer into a child’s body.

Why is EN71-3 important?

Children explore the world through touch and taste. That means toys get chewed, sucked, and sometimes swallowed. EN71-3 exists to make sure those interactions don’t expose kids to dangerous levels of toxic substances.


For manufacturers, compliance isn’t just a legal box to tick. It’s about:

  • Protecting children’s health – keeping toys safe from harmful chemicals.

  • Building trust – parents want assurance that products meet the highest safety standards.

  • Avoiding legal risk – selling toys that don’t comply with EN71-3 can result in recalls, fines, or being banned from the market.

Your responsibilities as a toy manufacturer

If you make or import toys into the UK or EU, you’re responsible for ensuring EN71-3 compliance. Here’s what that looks like in practice:


1. Know what needs to be tested

EN71-3 doesn’t only apply to small, chewable pieces. If a product is classed as a toy (meaning it has play value for a child), then the materials it’s made from must be tested. This includes plastics, metals, textiles, wood, coatings like paint or varnish, and any other surface materials. In short — if it’s a toy, EN71-3 testing applies.


2. Use safe materials

Work with trusted suppliers and ask for safety data sheets (SDS) or proof of compliance with EN71-3 whenever possible. The fewer unknowns, the smoother the testing process.

  • 3D Printing: When 3D printing toys, it’s vital to remember that not all filaments are created equal. Always work with trusted suppliers and ask for safety data sheets (SDS) or proof of compliance with EN71-3 where available. But don’t assume that because one brand of filament is safe, another will be too — even if they’re the same material type.

  • Be especially vigilant with cheap or unbranded filament, as the manufacturing process and additives used may not be consistent or traceable. Importantly, it’s not the responsibility of the filament manufacturer to ensure your finished toys pass EN71-3 testing. That responsibility sits with you as the toy manufacturer. Without proper testing, you simply cannot guarantee that a filament is safe for children’s toys.


3. Get testing done

The materials your toys are made from must be tested to make sure they meet EN71-3 requirements. Accredited labs carry out these tests by exposing the materials to simulated conditions such as saliva or stomach acid. This shows how much of any restricted substance could migrate out of the material if a child were to chew, suck, or swallow it.


4. Keep records

As part of your Technical File, you need to keep:

  • Test reports showing EN71-3 compliance

  • Supplier documentation

  • Risk assessments

These records must be available in case Trading Standards (UK) or market surveillance authorities (EU) ask to see them.


5. Label and market responsibly

Once your toy passes EN71-3 (and the rest of EN71 plus UKCA/CE requirements), you can place it on the market. But remember: you’re legally responsible for the toy’s safety for 10 years after placing it on the market.

Getting EN71-3 testing done can be expensive, especially if you’re just starting out. To make things easier, we offer an ever-growing list of popular 3D printing filament EN71-3 certificates for personal use. These are available at a much lower cost than sourcing the certificates directly yourself.

We also provide a selection of free certificates, which have been supplied to us by manufacturers at no cost. Rather than keeping these to ourselves, we want to pass them on to help other makers and small businesses meet their compliance responsibilities without unnecessary expense.

Where to find support

If you’re new to toy safety, the testing process can feel overwhelming. A great resource for small businesses is the Toy Testing Collective. They provide clear, step-by-step guides on EN71 testing and compliance, written with makers and independent sellers in mind. It’s a helpful place to start if you’re unsure how to approach toy safety requirements or want practical advice on building your compliance process.

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