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Toys

Toy Safety: US ASTM vs. EU EN 71 vs. UK Standards

A toy sold in all three major Western markets must comply with ASTM F963 in the United States, EN 71 in the European Union, and the UK's designated standards (currently BS EN 71) in Great Britain. Three different testing standards, three separate certificates, and different chemical limits in each market. The most expensive compliance mistake in the toy industry is designing and manufacturing for one market and then discovering — after inventory is produced — that the product cannot legally be sold in the other two.

This guide compares toy compliance across the US, EU, and UK and explains how to build multi-market compliance from a single test program.

Not sure which toy safety standards apply in each market? Use the Sustalium Global Compliance Map — select Toys and compare the US, EU, and UK frameworks at a glance.

Importing Toys Into the US: What Nobody Tells You

Toys are the most regulated consumer product category in the United States — and the compliance cost is not optional. Unlike adult furniture or general apparel, where you can issue a GCC based on a reasonable testing program, every toy sold in the US requires third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted laboratory, a Children's Product Certificate (CPC), and a tracking label permanently affixed to the product.

If you are importing toys for the first time — whether you designed them yourself or are sourcing from a manufacturer — the compliance path is the same. On the Sustalium platform, the single most common CPC rejection we see is a mismatch between the manufacturer name on the certificate and the importer name on the seller account. The testing is fine. The paperwork is wrong. Here is what you need before your toys reach a US port.

Not sure which CPSC standards apply to your toy? Use the Sustalium Global Compliance Map — select Toys and the US, and see every applicable framework from ASTM F963 to state packaging rules.

US Toys: CPC, ASTM F963 & State Requirements

Toys are the most heavily regulated consumer product category in the United States — and the compliance path is fundamentally different from general consumer goods. The key difference is that toys require a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) , not the General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) that covers adult products. The CPC demands third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted laboratory, additional chemical restrictions beyond what applies to general consumer goods, and specific labeling requirements — including a tracking label on every product.

This guide covers every compliance requirement for toys sold in the US, from federal testing standards to state-level chemical warnings, and compares the US framework to the EU Toy Safety Directive for brands selling in both markets.