About the Standard
Scope title: migration of certain elements from toys
EN 71-3 is a standard published by European Standard (EN) (EN). Standards published by the European standardisation organisations and adopted as national standards in member states; they are used as harmonised standards under EU directives.
See the other 194 codes from ENCoverage areas
What Is EN 71-3?
EN 71-3 assesses the migration of certain elements from toy materials into a child's body. The standard is not an analysis of material CONTENT; it works on MIGRATION — that is, it measures not how much of an element the material contains but how much of it dissolves and transfers under conditions simulating the mouth.
This approach follows the real pathway of the risk. Lead present in a paint does not reach the child if it is bound in a tight matrix; in a loose powder it does. Measuring total content either exaggerates or understates real exposure; measuring migration gives the amount a child could actually take in.
The standard divides materials into THREE CATEGORIES and applies a different set of limits to each. The categories are based on the accessibility of the material: dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable material (category I), liquid or sticky material (category II) and scraped-off material (category III). Different limits apply to the same element across the three categories because the amount of material a child could ingest varies by category.
The list of elements covered is broad and goes beyond heavy metals; items such as aluminium, boron, cobalt, nickel, strontium and organic tin compounds also appear. The list and limits are updated with revisions of the standard; the scope has widened markedly over the years.
The test is carried out with a dilute acid solution simulating the mouth and stomach environment, applied at a defined temperature and for a defined time. The element concentrations in the solution are then measured by sensitive methods such as ICP-MS.
Why Does This Standard Exist?
The history of heavy metal restrictions in toys began with lead paints. Children chewing painted surfaces and lead causing permanent damage to neurological development were the first focus of regulation. But the early approaches based on total content measurement produced problems in both directions: some safe products were rejected and some risky ones passed.
The migration approach solved that problem. The question became not "what is in the material?" but "how much could the child take in?". That is a more meaningful question toxicologically, because the amount of exposure determines the risk.
The category distinction is the cleverest aspect of the approach. A child can take in very little material from a scrapable surface; but they can swallow far more of a liquid or sticky material such as finger paint or modelling dough. A powdered material produces the highest exposure. The limits are graded to reflect that difference.
The widening of the element list came with the development of toxicological knowledge. There were eight elements at the outset; today the list carries nineteen elements and some organic compounds. Nickel (allergic contact dermatitis), cobalt and organic tin compounds are examples of that expansion.
The US approach remained different, and this creates problems in export. The CPSIA looks at total lead content and lead paint limits; it makes no migration assessment. A product may therefore pass EN 71-3 and fail the CPSIA, or the other way round.
Which Products Require It
- Toy paints, coatings and printing inks
- Plastic, textile, wooden, paper and metal toy components
- Finger paints, modelling dough and similar liquid/sticky materials
- Scrapable surface coatings
- Modelling clay, chalk and crayon products
Related Legislation and Schemes
- It is used to meet the chemical requirements of Annex II of Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
- The REACH (EC) 1907/2006 Annex XVII restrictions apply in addition
- Phthalates are assessed separately through EN 14372 and the REACH restrictions
- In the United States, the CPSIA lead content and lead paint limits use a different approach
- Organic chemical compounds are addressed through EN 71-9, -10 and -11
How the Assessment Runs
- 1Material inventoryAll accessible materials of the toy are listed; each component is treated as a separate sample.
- 2Assigning a categoryEach material is assigned to one of the three categories; the category decision is made before sample preparation and determines the set of limits.
- 3Specimen preparationScrapable materials are scraped off; powders and liquids are taken directly. The sample quantity and particle size are defined in the standard.
- 4MigrationThe sample is held in a dilute acid solution simulating the mouth/stomach environment at a defined temperature and for a defined time.
- 5Measurement and assessmentThe element concentrations in the solution are measured by ICP-MS and compared against the category limits.
Neighbouring Standards and the Differences
EN 71-1
Mechanical and physical safety. Chemical conformity does not cover mechanical conformity; both are required.
EN 71-9 / -10 / -11
Organic chemical compounds: requirements, sample preparation and methods of analysis.
REACH Annex XVII
Phthalates, azo dyes, nickel and other restrictions; applied to toys in addition.
CPSIA
The US approach: total lead content and lead paint limits. Migration results cannot be converted.
What the Report Must Contain
To be usable, a report must carry the information below. An incomplete report may not be accepted in the supply chain or in an inspection even when its result is correct.
- The material inventory and the category assigned to each material
- The justification for the category assignment
- Sample preparation: scraping, particle size, sample quantity
- Migration conditions: solution, temperature, duration
- The element concentrations measured and the detection limits
- The edition of the standard applied and the version of the element list
Commonly Confused Points
- Migration and total content get confused. The CPSIA looks at total lead content and EN 71-3 at migration; the two results cannot be used in place of one another.
- If the material category is chosen incorrectly the limit is applied incorrectly too; the category decision is made before sample preparation.
- The element list changes with revisions; an old report may fall short against the current list.
- Every accessible material is assessed separately; analysing the product as a whole dilutes a restricted element.
- The scraped-off material category requires surface coatings to be scraped off; a sample not taken from the surface changes the result.
- Chemical conformity alone does not demonstrate toy safety; the mechanical and flammability parts are also required.
Structure of the Code
- Published by
- EN
- Serial number
- 71
- Part
- 3
The last "3" is the section number of the standard. Chapters organize different coverages of the same series; The requirements of whichever section is written in the specification are applied.
Codes in the library without release year is kept. The current version changes over time; If the year is specified in your specification, that version is taken as basis, if not specified, the most current version is applied.
Scope
- Toy Testing
- Toy Testing
Related Tests and Services
A separate test page based on this code has not yet been released. The code falls within the scope of the following test families.
Technical Requirements
Standard texts are copyright of the relevant organization; test condition, sample and acceptance criteria cannot be fitted here.
Basis: The EN 71-3 migration approach and the three material category scheme; the widening of the element list with revisions; the 2009/48/EC Annex II and REACH Annex XVII references; its distinction from the CPSIA's total content approach.
Technical requirements specific to your product, once we clarify the scope At offer stage shared in writing.
Relevant Product Groups and Legislation
This code is included in the standard tag of the product pages below.
These product pages carry notes for the following markets: European Union, United Kingdom, USA. Whether the standard is mandatory in the relevant market varies depending on the product group and the applicable legislation.
Regulations published with this code on the same product pages:
- 2009/48/ECToy SafetyThe Toy Safety Directive. Regulates mechanical, physical, flammability, chemical and electrical safety requirements together; a technical file and safety assessment are mandatory.
- EN 62115Electrical toysSafety for electric toys; applies to mains-connected or battery-powered toys.
- (EC) 1907/2006REACHRegistration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals; SVHC notification.
- (AT) 1907/2006 Annex XVII item 51-52Phthalate RestrictionRestriction of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles.
- (EU) 2023/1542Batteries RegulationBattery obligations and a removability requirement for toys containing a battery.
- 2011/65/EURoHSRestriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Other Parts of the Same Series
EN 71 series is also present in the library with the following parts.
Related Standards
Frequently Asked Questions About EN 71-3
How do we determine our material's category?
The physical state and accessibility of the material determine it: powdered and brittle material is category I, liquid and sticky category II and a scrapable surface category III. In borderline cases the decision is justified.
We have a CPSIA report — is it sufficient for Europe?
It is not. The CPSIA looks at total content and EN 71-3 at migration; the two approaches can produce different results.
How many materials must be analysed?
Every different accessible material is a separate sample. On a multi-coloured toy, each colour may count as a separate material.
Is our supplier's report sufficient?
A raw material report is a starting point, but processing and the final product form affect migration; verification on the finished product is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this standard mandatory for my product?
Whether it is mandatory depends on the product group, the target market and the applicable legislation. Once you tell us your product and market, we clarify in writing whether this standard is required.
How long does the test process take?
Duration depends on the scope of the standard, the number of specimens and current capacity. The exact duration is shared, together with the specimen and scope details, at the quote stage.
Do you issue certification against this standard?
Which activity is carried out under which accreditation scope is separately confirmed at the application stage. Up-to-date scope information is published on our corporate page.
What happens if the standard I need is not here?
The library is based on a continuously growing inventory. If you cannot find the code you are looking for, you can send it through the quote form; we will assess the relevant scope and get back to you.