TSD 88/378/EEC - Toy Safety Directive

TSD 88/378/EEC (Toy Safety Directive), Council Directive 88/378/EEC of March 3, 1988 was published on January 1, 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys.

The safety of toys is harmonized at the European level so that the essential requirements can be met at the manufacturing stage. The standards laid down by the European standardization bodies provide evidence of compliance with the essential requirements. Toys that meet these requirements bear the CE marking.

The Toy Safety Directive (TSD) 88/378/EEC came into force on January 1, 1990. Since then, toys placed in the European Economic Area must bear the CE marking.

A toy is defined as “any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children
of less than 14 years of age”.

The primary requirement is that toys meet the essential safety requirements of the directive. Toys must either be manufactured in accordance with harmonized standards, or must be type tested by a notified body in order to demonstrate that they comply with the essential requirements
of the directive.

For products which are manufactured fully in accordance with the requirements of the harmonized standards, manufacturers may self-certify to the directive without involving a notified body. However, many large retailers will require an independent report as a condition of supply, even though this is not a legal requirement.

Additionally, the directive requires that the manufacturer should put the CE logo on the product and maintain a file containing certain items of information about the toys.

Second hand toys (i.e. those which were first sold within the European Community before January 1, 1990) do not have to be CE marked, but they must meet the essential safety requirements.

Last updated Jan 07, 2010

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