UK Proposes Updated Designated Standards For Toy Safety (EN 71)

The UK Department for Business and Trade has issued a notice proposing updates to the list of designated standards that support compliance with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1881). If adopted, the updated references would be published for the purposes of Regulation 3A and would confer a presumption of conformity, subject to any stated restrictions. The Department indicates the changes would take effect at 00.01 on the 29th day beginning with 15 January 2026, unless the notice is amended or withdrawn.

Stakeholders can submit objections to the proposed publication via the Department’s designated standards mailbox, ahead of the proposed designation date.

What The Proposal Covers

In Great Britain, designated standards are a practical route to demonstrating that a toy meets the applicable essential safety requirements. Updates to designated references matter because they can drive changes in test programmes, technical files, supplier specifications, and declarations of conformity used across the toy supply chain.

The notice proposes amending the list of published standards previously set out in a prior notice, and it also proposes removing certain previously published references from designation at a later date.

Key Standards Being Updated

The proposal includes updates to the following EN 71 standards:

• EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical and Physical Properties), with a stated restriction for wave rollers in relation to the definition of “driving mechanism” and the specific requirements for that toy type
• EN 71-3:2019+A2:2024 (Migration of Certain Elements)
• EN 71-13:2021+A2:2024 (Olfactory Board Games, Cosmetic Kits and Gustative Games)

The notice also indicates that the earlier references EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 and EN 71-13:2021+A1:2022 would continue to confer a presumption of conformity until a removal date of 16 June 2027. This transition window is designed to give manufacturers and importers time to move to the newer editions.

What Manufacturers And Importers Should Do Now

Businesses placing toys on the GB market should map current test reports and technical documentation to the relevant EN 71 editions, then plan any necessary re-testing or documentation updates. Where a restriction limits presumption of conformity for a product type, companies should consider whether additional evidence is needed to demonstrate compliance with the essential safety requirements beyond relying on the standard alone.