The European Union is moving to ensure that building blocks, dolls, toy trains and other children’s products contain fewer harmful chemicals in the future. On Tuesday, the European Parliament approved an updated set of EU toy safety standards that bans so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS) as well as a range of hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic substances. The ban applies to toys manufactured within the EU as well as imported products from non-EU countries.
The new rules generally cover toys intended for children under the age of 14. They do not apply to learning materials or collectibles aimed primarily at adults. The legislation includes a list of chemicals that will be prohibited going forward.
Among them are PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated chemicals). An exception is made for electronic components in toys that are inaccessible to children, such as items built inside a doll. PFAS degrade extremely slowly in the environment, and repeated or prolonged exposure has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol levels, reduced immune response, low birth weight and several types of cancer.
The list of banned substances also includes endocrine disruptors, which interfere with the hormonal systems of humans and animals. These chemicals are commonly found in pesticides and plant-protection products as well as toys, cosmetics and food packaging. In addition, biocidal products—such as insecticides—will no longer be allowed in toys. Toys intended exclusively for outdoor use are exempt from this restriction.
To strengthen import controls, the EU will introduce a digital product passport that every company must provide when placing toys on the market in any of the 27 EU member states. This requirement also applies to online sales.
The Council of the EU must still give formal approval to the legislation. After that, a transition period of 4.5 years will begin to allow toy manufacturers and retailers to adapt to the new rules.
Katarina Barley (SPD), Vice President of the European Parliament and a member of the Internal Market Committee, described the new regulation as a “strong signal for health, safety and consumer protection” and accused online platforms such as Temu and Shein of “flooding the European market with dangerous toys.”
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