Toys Get Tougher Safety Laws

In a landmark move on November 25, 2025, the European Parliament passed stringent new regulations aimed at enhancing the safety of toys and protecting children’s health across the European Union. This significant legislative update, which revises a 2009 directive, comes in response to the growing concerns about toy safety, particularly with the rise of online shopping and digital technologies.

The revised rules introduce a comprehensive ban on substances deemed harmful to children, such as endocrine disruptors, skin sensitizers, and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” Additionally, the regulation extends existing prohibitions on carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxins to include more chemicals that are particularly hazardous to children’s health. The new regulations also mandate digital passports for all toys, which will facilitate faster customs checks and provide consumers with easy access to safety warnings.

Under the new system, manufacturers are required to conduct thorough safety assessments covering a variety of potential hazards — chemical, physical, mechanical, and electrical — before placing a toy on the market. These assessments must consider children’s specific vulnerabilities, including the risk of flammability, hygiene issues, and even radioactivity. Moreover, to better regulate the growing online marketplace, the new rules strengthen the requirements for economic operators, including manufacturers and distributors, and mandate platforms to allow visible display of safety markings and digital passports.

The new rules are set to take effect 20 days following their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The transition period for member states and industry stakeholders to comply with the new guidelines spans 4 and a half years, ensuring ample time for adjustment. This overhaul of toy safety standards is anticipated to significantly reduce the number of unsafe toys in the market, ensuring that children in the EU can play safely and without health risks.