European toy industry is innovative and makes a significant contribution to the creation of employment and wealth. The total toy market is estimated in 17.3 billion € at retail prices in 2002, which total imports amounting to over 9 billion €. The European toy industry employs over 100,000 people directly and there are over 2000 companies operating in the toy and games sector. Most of them are small and medium sized enterprises. Some of the European regions in which toy companies are concentrated are the Jura in
Safety is an important issue for toys. The achievement of internal market for toys, by harmonising safety characteristics of toys across the EU, has positively contributed both to the development of the sector and to consumer protection. The Council directive of 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys, amended by Council Directive 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993, sets a high level of protection for consumers. The directive relies on European standards and also on the Notified Bodies appointed by Member States to undertake conformity assessment. The Commission is following closely the implementation of the Directive.
The EU toy market has grown 1.4% in 2002. The most important trading partners remain
One of the main opportunities for the European toy industry is the tremendous export potential of high quality European products. In this field, the European Commission actively support the industry by improving market access conditions in third countries.
|
Test Item |
Standard |
|
EN71-1 Part 1 Mechanical and Physical Properties |
EN71-1 |
|
EN71-2 Part 2 Flammability |
EN71-2 |
|
EN71-3 Part 3 Migration of Certain elements |
EN71-3 |
|
EN71-4 Part 4 Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities |
EN71-4 |
|
EN71-5 Part 5 Chemical toys (Sets) other than experimental sets |
EN71-5 |
|
EN71-6 Part 6 Graphical symbol for age warning labelling |
EN71-6 |
|
EN71-7 Part 7 Finger Paints-Requirements and test methods |
EN71-7 |
|
EN71-8 Part 8 Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use |
EN71-8 |
|
EN71-9 Part 9 Organic chemical compounds - Requirements |
EN71-9 |
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EN71-10 Part 10 Organic chemical compounds – sample preparation and extraction |
EN71-10 |
|
EN71-11 Part 11 Organic chemical compounds – Methods of analysis |
EN71-11 |
|
EMC-Conducted Emission |
EN 55014-1 |
|
EMC- Radiated Emission |
EN 55014-1 |
|
EMC-Current Harmonics |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Voltage Flick |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-ElectroStatic Discharge |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Conducted Immunity |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Electrical Fast Transient |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Surge |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Radiated Immunity |
EN 6 |
|
EMC-Voltage dips, short interruption and variations |
EN 6 |
|
LVD-marking and instructions |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Power input |
EN62115 |
|
LVD- Heating and abnormal operation |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Electric strength |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Mechanical strength |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Construction |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Protection of cords and wires |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Screws and components |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Clearances and creepage distances |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Resistance to fire |
EN62115 |
|
LVD- Resistance to heat |
EN62115 |
|
LVD-Radiation and toxicity |
EN62115 |
|
R&TTE-Frequency Error |
EN 300 220 |
|
R&TTE-Carrier Power |
EN 300 220 |
|
R&TTE-Spurious Emission |
EN 300 220 |
|
R&TTE-Adjacent Channel Power |
EN 300 220 |
|
R&TTE-Modulation Bandwidth |
EN 300 220 |
|
R&TTE-Spurious Emission to RX |
EN 300 220 |
|
Poisonous element of package testing |
|
|
Phthalates content |
2005/84/EC |
|
Colour Fastness |
German DIN 53160 |
|
Azo test |
2002/61/EC |
|
Nickel Content |
EN1811 & EN12472 & EN1810 |
|
Cadmium Content |
91/338/EEC & |
|
Food Grade Plastic |
US FDA & EEC 90/128 & 1935/2004 & LFGB |
|
Leachable Lead & Cadmium Ceramicwares |
FDA & US California Proposition 65 & 84/500/EEC |