- Directive 2009/48/EC generally governs product requirements until 31 July 2030.
- Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 replaces the Directive from 1 August 2030.
- The new Regulation introduces a digital product passport for toys, among other changes.
Which obligations apply today?
Before placing a product on the market, manufacturers must determine whether it is a toy, conduct a safety assessment and apply the appropriate conformity-assessment procedure. Depending on the product, this covers chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, flammability, hygiene and radioactivity hazards and potential exposure.
- Safety assessment and product testing
- Technical documentation and manufacturing information
- Applied standards and test reports
- EC Declaration of Conformity, CE marking and warnings
- Traceability and economic-operator information
What changes on 1 August 2030?
Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 generally replaces the Directive from 1 August 2030. It strengthens and harmonises the framework, especially for chemicals and digital conformity information.
Before placing a toy on the market, manufacturers will need to create a digital product passport for the model. Certain institutional provisions have applied since 1 January 2026, but this does not mean all new product obligations apply today.
How does the transition work?
Toys lawfully placed on the market under the Directive before 1 August 2030 may continue to be made available. EC type-examination certificates generally remain valid until 1 February 2031 or their earlier expiry.
Businesses with long-lived product ranges should prepare data structures, supplier records and product-passport information in good time.
Sources & legal status
This overview is based exclusively on official legal and public-authority sources.
The applicable legislation cannot be determined from the product name alone. Relevant factors include design, voltage, drive system, radio functions, intended use and the date of placing on the market. This content provides general technical information and does not replace a product-specific assessment or legal advice.