Below, we break down the 3 most critical changes to the 2026 wooden toy safety standards, helping you make informed choices when selecting safe, high-quality wooden toys for your little ones.
1. Stricter Mechanical and Physical Property Requirements (EN 71-1:2025 Revision)
The newly revised EN 71-1:2025 standard introduces more rigorous requirements for the mechanical and physical properties of wooden toys, focusing on minimizing choking, sharp edge, and stability risks.
For wooden toys, this means two key updates:
First, expanded soaking and material compatibility tests. Wooden toys that are likely to come into prolonged contact with saliva or sweat-such as teething toys, wooden blocks for toddlers, and oral-interactive wooden toys-must now undergo additional soaking tests to ensure they do not degrade, split, or release harmful particles over time. This addresses the long-standing concern that moisture exposure could compromise the structural integrity of wooden toys, creating potential hazards.
Second, revised stability requirements for load-bearing wooden toys. Wooden toy shelves, play tables, and large construction sets must now pass stricter stability tests to prevent tipping, even when used as intended by children . For manufacturers, this means optimizing design structures-such as wider bases or reinforced joints-to ensure safety, while for parents, it means greater peace of mind when children interact with larger wooden playpieces.
2. New Safety Clauses for Food Imitation Wooden Toys
With the growing popularity of food-themed wooden toys-such as wooden fruits, vegetables, and play food sets-the 2026 standards add mandatory safety clauses specifically for these products . The core concern is the risk of choking or ingestion, as young children may mistake these toy pieces for real food.
Under the new standards, food imitation wooden toys must undergo specialized safety tests tailored to their intended use. This includes stricter size requirements for small wooden food pieces (ensuring they cannot fit into a child's mouth), as well as tests to ensure that painted or coated wooden food toys do not chip or peel, even when bitten or chewed. Additionally, these toys must be clearly labeled to distinguish them from real food, reducing confusion for young children.
3. Updated Chemical Migration Limits (EN 71-3:A2:2024)
While chemical safety has long been a focus for wooden toys, the 2026 updates include revised limits for the migration of certain elements, as outlined in EN 71-3:2019 + A2:2024 <superscript:5>. This amendment tightens restrictions on harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and chromium, and introduces clearer requirements for total chromium measurement, eliminating ambiguity between CrIII and CrVI compliance.
For wooden toys, this means stricter controls on paints, varnishes, and wood treatments. Water-based paints and food-grade wood wax oils-already the gold standard for safe wooden toys-are now even more critical, as the new limits reduce the permissible levels of harmful chemicals to near-zero. Parents should look for toys labeled with compliance to EN 71-3:A2:2024 to ensure they are free from toxic chemical exposure.
How to Ensure Your Wooden Toys Meet 2026 Standards?
For parents, the simplest way to verify compliance is to check for clear labeling of EN 71-1:2025, EN 71-3:A2:2024, and other relevant certifications (such as ASTM F963 for the U.S. market). Additionally, choose toys made from high-quality, untreated or food-grade treated wood, and avoid products with sharp edges, loose parts, or strong chemical odors .
For manufacturers and retailers, proactive compliance is key. This includes updating production processes to meet the new mechanical and chemical requirements, conducting rigorous pre-production and batch testing, and maintaining transparent supply chain records.
At Billion Arts, we prioritize safety above all else. Our entire range of wooden toys is fully compliant with the 2026 updated safety standards, from material selection to production and testing. We use FSC-certified wood, food-grade water-based paints, and undergo strict third-party testing to ensure every toy is safe, durable, and suitable for children of all ages.
