EN 71 Parts 1, 2 and 3 Explained for Buyers

EN 71 is the European toy safety standard, organised in parts. Buyers often ask for "an EN71 report" as if it were one document. It is not: EN 71-1, -2 and -3 test different things, and a report covering only one part leaves gaps in your technical file.

This guide explains what each part covers on a wooden baby toy, what a usable report looks like, and why the CE mark is not the certificate many buyers assume it is.

The three parts at a glance

Part	Tests	What it means on a wooden toy
EN 71-1	Mechanical and physical properties	Small parts, sharp edges and points, gaps and holes, cords and straps, mouth-actuated toys, drop and tip tests, packaging film
EN 71-2	Flammability	Fabric, rope, felt, paper and other soft components; how fast a flame spreads
EN 71-3	Migration of 19 elements	How much lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium and other elements can migrate out of a material a child may mouth or swallow

A solid-wood stacking ring with a water-based finish still needs EN 71-1 and EN 71-3. EN 71-2 matters when the toy has textiles, rope or paper — a rattle with a cotton strap, for example.

What EN 71-1 covers for a 0–3 wooden toy

EN 71-1 is where most 0–3 failures happen. The clauses that matter most:

Small parts for under 36 months. Toys for children under 3 must not contain small parts that detach under normal use or foreseeable abuse. Abuse testing is applied at the design stage.
Edges, points and splinters. Sanded, sealed surfaces pass; split dowel ends, staples and exposed screw threads do not.
Gaps and holes. Finger traps, 5–12 mm holes and moving joints are assessed for pinching and entrapment.
Cords and straps. Length and loop rules for pull strings and tethers.
Mouth-actuated toys. Teethers and rattles carry extra requirements on how far a part can be inserted.
Stability and drop tests for walkers and larger push toys.

EN 71-2 in practice

EN 71-2 is the part buyers ask about least. If your wooden toy includes fabric ears, a felt cover, a cotton cord or paper packaging intended for play, those components are in scope. A wooden block with no soft parts will usually be marked not applicable — legitimate, as long as the report says so explicitly.

EN 71-3: 19 elements, three material categories

EN 71-3 measures migration, not total content: how much of an element can come out of a material under a simulated stomach-acid test. Limits are set by material category.

Material category	Examples on a wooden toy
Category I	Dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable materials
Category II	Liquid or sticky materials
Category III	Scraped-off material from coatings, paints and inks

A wooden toy usually has at least two categories in scope: the wood itself and the coating or printed decoration. A report testing only bare wood and omitting the paint does not cover the product you ship.

CE marking is a self-declaration, not a certificate

This is where supplier slideshows and EU law diverge. There is no such thing as a "CE certificate" issued by an authority. CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that the toy meets the applicable requirements. The file behind it contains:

A technical file: design drawings, bill of materials, test reports, risk assessment, warning texts, and the age grading rationale.
An EU Declaration of Conformity, signed by the manufacturer or the importer placing the toy on the market.
The CE mark applied to the toy or its packaging according to the size and proportion rules.

The technical file must be kept for 10 years. That matters to importers: if a market surveillance authority asks for the file, the answer has to exist years after the shipment.

Two more EU-specific points for 0–3 wooden toys:

Warnings must be in the language of the country of sale. One English warning label does not serve Germany, France and Italy.
Under the current directive, toys for children under 36 months must not have detachable small parts, and chemical requirements include phthalates, CMR substances and nitrosamines for mouth-contact parts.

The framework is also moving: Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 replaced the old directive, entered into force on 1 January 2026 and applies fully from 1 August 2030. EN 71 remains the route to presumption of conformity, but the law around it is changing — see the 2025/2509 digital product passport guide.

What to ask your supplier for

A report covering all applicable EN 71 parts, not just one.
The edition of each part tested, since the parts are revised periodically — ask your lab to confirm the current edition.
The sample description: model, colour, materials and age grade.
The coating and ink tested, not only the wood.
The Declaration of Conformity and the technical file index.

If a supplier replies "EN71 certified", that phrase does not exist in EU law. Ask which parts, which edition, and which laboratory.

FAQ

Q: Is EN 71 a legal requirement?

EN 71 is a harmonised standard. Meeting it gives presumption of conformity with the safety requirements of the toy legislation. The legal obligation is the directive or regulation itself; EN 71 is how most manufacturers demonstrate compliance.

Q: Do we need EN 71-2 for a wooden toy?

Only if there are components that fall within its scope — textiles, ropes, paper, felt. A solid wooden toy with no such components is typically excluded, and the report should say so.

Q: Our report only covers EN 71-3. Is that enough?

No. EN 71-3 covers migration of elements only. Mechanical and physical safety comes from EN 71-1, and flammability from EN 71-2 where applicable.

Q: Who signs the EU Declaration of Conformity?

The manufacturer, or the importer placing the toy on the EU market under its own name. A non-EU supplier cannot sign a DoC for an EU importer.

For the market-level reference, including what the importer must hold, see EU EN 71 and CE. For the 2026 regulation change, read EU 2025/2509 and the DPP. To check which EN 71 reports exist for a model, send the SKU through the quote form or browse the wooden teether range.

This is a commercial explainer, not legal advice. Certification is model-specific and market-specific.