February 10, 2026 | The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has published two updated toy safety standards under the EN71 series of regulations as the European Union begins the transition from the Toy Safety Directive (TSD) to the Toy Safety Regulation (TSR) in 2030. As part of this major transition, the EN71 standards will continue to be reviewed, revised, and republished to ensure they provide presumption of conformity under the new regulation once it goes into effect.
The newly published standards — EN71-1:2026 and EN71-8:2026 — introduce updated safety requirements for specific toy categories sold in the European market. Both standards will fully enter into force in July 2027, at which time the previous versions of the respective standards will be formally withdrawn.
- EN71-1:2026 Safety of Toys – Part 1: Mechanical and Physical Properties (Replaces EN71-1:2014 + A1:2018)
- Major changes include new requirements for food imitation toys and updates to requirements for ride-on toys, expanding materials, and projectiles.
- EN71-8:2026 Safety of Toys – Part 8: Activity Toys for Domestic Use (Replaces EN71-8:2018)
- Major changes include additional requirements for inflatable activity toys and updates to requirements for swings, slides, and straps.
“The EN71 series of standards is a critical element of the European Union’s regulatory framework for toys. These updates extend the requirements and address new areas of concern through the standards development process,” said Jos Huxley, senior vice president of technical affairs at The Toy Association. “We can expect further updates in order to ensure EN71 is ready to support the new regulatory framework by the 2030 deadline.”
Now that the TSR (EU 2025/2509) has been published, a number of changes beyond the EN71 standards are expected in the coming years, including a Delegated Act related to the new Digital Product Passport, as the European Commission and standards bodies work to support conformity under the TSR.
The Toy Association’s annual Toy Safety & Legislative Update, taking place Monday, February 16 at Toy Fair® in New York City, will include a presentation by Catherine Van Reeth from Toy Industries of Europe (TIE), including information about the newly published TSR. After Toy Fair, The Toy Association will provide members with an in-depth overview of the TSR changes, which will be kept up to date as a member resource when new information becomes available.
The Toy Association will keep the industry apprised of any developments regarding EN71 updates to support the Toy Safety Regulation in the European Union. Members may reach out to The Toy Association’s Jos Huxley, senior vice president of technical affairs, with any questions.