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Selling toys in the UK

In Great Britain, toys for children under 14 fall under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. Before sale, the manufacturer carries out a safety assessment and conformity assessment, draws up a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, and affixes the UKCA or CE marking. Northern Ireland applies the same Regulations in line with the EU Toy Safety Directive.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Main text in GB
The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011
Applies to
Toys for play by children under 14 years old
Marking in GB
UKCA or CE, with a UK or EU declaration of conformity
Records kept
Technical documentation and declaration for 10 years
Warnings
In English, preceded by "Warning" or "Warnings"
Who enforces in GB
Local trading standards, and the Secretary of State

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is it a toy for play by children under 14, or on the list of products that are not toys? Read more
  2. 2Does it meet the general and particular safety requirements, including chemical limits? Read more
  3. 3Has the manufacturer carried out a safety assessment and the right conformity assessment? Read more
  4. 4Is it marked UKCA or CE, with the declaration of conformity to match? Read more
  5. 5Do the toy and packaging carry the identification, address and warnings in English? Read more
  6. 6Who is the UK importer, and what must it check before sale? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Scope

Which products the toy rules cover.

  • The 2011 Regulations apply to toys designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years old.
  • Some products are specifically excluded, such as toy steam engines (Regulation 4), and Schedule 1 lists products that are not considered to be toys.
  • The Regulations implemented Directive 2009/48/EC. There is one set of UK Regulations, but some provisions apply differently in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
  • The duties apply to a person acting in the course of a commercial activity. A regular seller on an online marketplace is unlikely to be exempt.

How we help: Compliant Always records which rules a toy falls under, and why, with the product. Ask about this

Essential safety requirements

The general and particular safety requirements a toy meets before it is placed on the market.

  • Toys, including the chemicals they contain, must not jeopardise the safety or health of users or third parties when used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
  • The ability of users and their supervisors is taken into account, in particular for toys intended for children under 36 months.
  • Schedule 2 sets particular requirements on physical and mechanical properties, flammability, chemical properties, electrical properties, hygiene and radioactivity, including a list of allergenic fragrances toys must not contain.
  • In 2022, GB set its own lower limits for aniline and formaldehyde in toys for children under 36 months or meant to be put in the mouth, and reduced the migration limits for aluminium.
  • OPSS guidance on button and coin batteries points to the toy standard BS EN IEC 62115 for electric toys.

How we help: Upload a test report and Compliant Always reads it against the limits that apply in GB, and flags the ones that changed in 2022. Ask about this

Conformity assessment and marking

The assessment, the declaration and the marking before a toy goes on the GB market.

  • Before placing a toy on the GB market, the manufacturer carries out a safety assessment, follows the applicable conformity assessment procedure, and draws up technical documentation.
  • The manufacturer draws up a declaration of conformity (a UK declaration if UKCA marked, an EU declaration if CE marked) and keeps it with the technical documentation for 10 years.
  • Since 1 October 2024, the CE marking is recognised indefinitely in GB, so either the UKCA or the CE marking can be used. A product assessed by a UK Approved Body must be UKCA marked.
  • The marking is affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the toy, a label affixed to it or its packaging. Until 31 December 2027, the UKCA marking may be on a label or an accompanying document.
  • Toys sold in Northern Ireland or the EU need the CE marking; where a UK body did the third-party assessment for NI, the CE and UKNI markings are used together.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the safety assessment, declaration of conformity and certificates with each toy, dated, and shows what is missing before a shipment. Ask about this

Identification, warnings and instructions

What the toy, its label or its packaging has to show.

  • The toy carries a type, batch, serial or model number and the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark and contact address, or these go on the packaging or an accompanying document where size or nature prevents it.
  • Warnings about hazards and how to avoid them are marked in English, clearly visible, easily legible and accurate, preceded by the word "Warning" or "Warnings".
  • The toy comes with instructions for safe use and safety information where appropriate.
  • The importer's name, registered trade name or trade mark and postal address go on the toy, or on the packaging or an accompanying document where that is not possible.

How we help: Compliant Always sets what a GB toy label has to show beside your artwork, with the source for each line. Ask about this

Importers, distributors and authorised representatives

Who answers for a toy in the GB supply chain.

  • An importer is a UK-based business placing a toy on the GB market from outside the UK, including from the EEA. It checks that the manufacturer has done its conformity assessment, documentation and marking.
  • Until 31 December 2027, an importer of toys from the EEA or Switzerland may give its details on the packaging or an accompanying document instead of on the toy.
  • Manufacturers and importers carry out sample testing, keep a register of complaints, non-compliant toys and recalls, and tell the enforcement authorities about safety risks.
  • Distributors act with due care and verify the marking, identification, instructions and importer details before supply.
  • An authorised representative for the GB market must be established in the UK.

How we help: Compliant Always records who the manufacturer, importer and authorised representative are for each toy, and keeps what each must hold. Ask about this

Enforcement and recalls

Who checks toys on sale in GB, and what they can do.

  • In GB, local trading standards authorities enforce the 2011 Regulations. The Secretary of State is also an enforcement authority across the UK.
  • Authorities may issue a compliance notice, and a withdrawal or recall notice where it is not complied with.
  • Offences may lead to unlimited fines in England and Wales, fines of up to £10,000 in Scotland, up to 6 months in prison, or both.

How we help: Compliant Always ties each document to the batch it covers, so a recall question about one batch is answered from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ManufacturerDesign to the safety requirements, the safety assessment, conformity assessment, marking and documentation.The technical file and declaration kept with each toy and batch.
UK importerChecking the manufacturer's work, its own name and address, sample testing and complaints.Overseas suppliers' declarations and test reports read and dated before the goods arrive.
DistributorDue care, and verifying the marking, identification and instructions before supply.The documents each toy needs, shown when a retailer asks.
Authorised representativeThe tasks the manufacturer mandates in writing, such as keeping technical documentation.The mandate and the documents it covers, kept in one place.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the 2011 Regulations apply so as to implement Directive 2009/48/EC, and EU Market Surveillance Regulation 2019/1020 also applies. An economic operator responsible for compliance must be based in the EU or NI for toys placed on the NI market.

Qualifying Northern Ireland goods that can lawfully be sold in NI can be placed on the GB market without additional approvals.

Shipping out of the UK?

Exporting toys from the UK

Questions businesses ask

Which rules apply to toys sold in Great Britain?
The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 as they apply in GB. They set essential safety requirements that toys meet before they are placed on the GB market.
What counts as a toy under the UK rules?
A product designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years old. Schedule 1 lists products that are not considered toys.
Do toys need UKCA marking in Great Britain?
A toy needs UKCA or CE marking. The CE marking is recognised indefinitely in GB since 1 October 2024. A toy assessed by a UK Approved Body must be UKCA marked.
Can a toy carry both UKCA and CE marking?
Yes, where the conformity procedures allow it and both the EU and GB requirements are met. The CE marking remains mandatory for toys sold in Northern Ireland or the EU.
How long are toy safety records kept?
The manufacturer keeps the technical documentation and declaration of conformity for 10 years. The importer keeps a copy of the declaration and makes the documentation available for 10 years.
What language must toy warnings be in?
English. Warnings are clearly visible, easily legible, understandable and accurate, and preceded by the word "Warning" or "Warnings".
Where does the importer's address go on a toy?
On the toy, or on its packaging or an accompanying document where size or nature prevents it. For toys from the EEA or Switzerland, packaging or documents are allowed until 31 December 2027.
Who is the importer of a toy made in the EU?
The UK-based business that places it on the GB market. A business that was a distributor of EU toys before 1 January 2021 is now legally an importer.
Who enforces toy safety in Great Britain?
Local trading standards authorities, with the Secretary of State also an enforcement authority across the UK. They can require withdrawal or recall of toys that present a risk.
Do the toy rules apply to second-hand toys sold online?
They apply to anyone acting in the course of a commercial activity. A regular seller on an online marketplace is unlikely to be exempt; a parent selling occasionally probably is.
Which rules apply to toys in Northern Ireland?
The 2011 Regulations as they apply in NI, implementing the EU Toy Safety Directive, plus EU Regulation 2019/1020, which requires a responsible economic operator in the EU or NI.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in the UK?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the split between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product and keeps the documents behind each one ready. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

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