For most buyers importing Chinese toys, the document set comes down to this: EN 71 plus a CE Declaration of Conformity and a named EU responsible person under GPSR for the European Union; ASTM F963-23 plus a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) issued by a CPSC-accepted laboratory for the United States. Everything else is category-specific on top of that baseline.
The expensive mistakes in this area are rarely about picking the wrong standard. They are about accepting a certificate that covers a different item number, a different factory entity, or an expired version of the standard — and only finding out when a container is held at the port. This guide covers what each document is, what to ask for, and how to check that what you received is real.
What you need, by destination market
| Market | Core requirement | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | EN 71 test reports, CE marking, EU Declaration of Conformity, GPSR responsible person | Test lab issues reports; the manufacturer or importer signs the DoC |
| United States | ASTM F963-23 testing, CPC, CPSIA lead and phthalate compliance, tracking label | CPSC-accepted third-party lab tests; the importer issues the CPC |
| United Kingdom | UKCA marking with equivalent testing to EN 71 | Same labs; separate declaration from the EU one |
One point that surprises first-time importers: in the US the CPC is issued by the importer, not the factory. The factory supplies the test reports that support it, but the legal certificate is yours to issue and yours to defend. A supplier who offers to “give you the CPC” is giving you a template based on their testing — useful, but you remain the responsible party.
What each document actually covers
EN 71 — the European toy safety series
EN 71 is a series, not one test. The three parts you will see on almost every quotation are Part 1 (mechanical and physical properties, including small parts and sharp edges), Part 2 (flammability), and Part 3 (migration of certain elements — the heavy-metals test). Additional parts apply to specific product types, such as chemistry sets or finger paints.
CE marking and the Declaration of Conformity
CE is not a certificate a lab hands out. It is a marking the manufacturer applies to claim conformity with the applicable EU directives — for toys, the Toy Safety Directive. The document that backs it is the Declaration of Conformity, a signed statement naming the product, the standards applied and the legal entity taking responsibility. If a supplier sends you a colourful “CE Certificate” with a logo and no signed DoC behind it, ask for the DoC.
ASTM F963-23 and the CPC
ASTM F963 is the US toy safety standard, mandatory under the CPSIA. The current revision is F963-23. Check the revision on the report: testing against an older revision is a common source of rejected paperwork. The CPC then references those test reports, identifies the product, the manufacturing location and date, and the testing laboratory.
GPSR: the change that catches new EU importers
Since 13 December 2024 the EU General Product Safety Regulation requires that every product placed on the EU market has an economic operator established inside the EU who is responsible for it. For a buyer importing directly from a Chinese factory, that operator is normally you, and your name and contact details must appear on the product, its packaging or the accompanying documentation.
Two practical consequences at sourcing stage. First, if you sell into the EU through a marketplace, the marketplace will ask for these details before your listing goes live — sort it before production, not after. Second, ask the supplier early whether their artwork can carry your responsible-person block; changing printed packaging after the print run is a real cost.
How to check a certificate is real
Four checks catch the overwhelming majority of problems, and all four take minutes:
- Does the entity match? The company on the test report should be the company on your proforma invoice. Where a factory tests under a sister company or an agent’s name, ask why in writing before the deposit.
- Do the item numbers match? A report covering “Model 8801” does not cover 8802 because it looks similar. Confirm coverage item by item for what you are actually buying.
- Is the revision current? ASTM F963-23 for the US; check the EN 71 part revisions for the EU.
- Is the lab traceable? Reports carry a laboratory name and report number. Reputable labs will confirm a report number on request; that verification step is worth doing on a first order.
Category-specific requirements on top of the baseline
| Category | What gets added |
|---|---|
| Hobby & RC, Electronic Toys | RED for the radio module, UN38.3 for lithium cells, MSDS/SDS for the battery, and a battery classification that determines whether air freight is possible at all |
| Plush & Stuffed Animals | Textile and filling-material testing, flammability, and stricter small-parts scrutiny where eyes or noses are attached |
| Arts, Crafts & DIY | EN 71 Part 7 for finger paints or Part 9/10/11 for chemical toys, depending on the formulation |
| Tricycles, Scooters & Ride-Ons | Load and stability testing; EN 71 Part 1 applies differently to ride-on products than to handheld toys |
| Baby & Toddler Toys | The strictest small-parts and saliva/perspiration migration requirements, since products are intended for mouthing |
What suppliers on SourceToys typically hold
As of 24 July 2026 the platform lists 31,812 products from 87 verified suppliers, all of them source factories rather than trading intermediaries. Certification coverage varies by factory and by product line, which is why the practical approach is to ask per item number rather than per company. The common baseline quoted across categories here is EN 71, CE, ASTM F963-23, CPC and CPSIA, with GPSR responsibility arranged per buyer.
Timings to plan around, based on what suppliers on the platform quote: a first reply to an enquiry within 12–24 hours, samples in about 7 days for an existing item, and 25–35 days production for a standard order. If a product needs testing it has never had, add the laboratory turnaround to that — testing is usually the longest single item on a first order, not the manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the factory or the importer pay for testing?
It is negotiable and depends on whether the testing already exists. Where a factory has current reports for a stock item, those are normally shared at no cost. Where your order needs new testing — a new colourway, your own packaging, or a market the item has not been sold into — the cost is usually quoted to the buyer, sometimes shared against an agreed order volume.
How long is a toy test report valid?
Reports do not carry a fixed expiry in the way a licence does. They remain valid for the product and materials tested, so they lapse in practice when the standard revision changes or when the product changes — different pigment, different supplier for a component, different mould. Any material change should be a trigger to re-test.
Do I need CCC certification to import Chinese toys?
No. CCC is China’s domestic compulsory certification and applies to products sold within the Chinese market. It has no bearing on your import requirements, though some categories require it for the factory’s domestic sales, so you may see it referenced in a company profile.
Can one certificate cover a whole product range?
Sometimes, where items share materials and construction, a report can cover a family of products — but the family has to be defined in the report itself. Never assume coverage extends to an item number that is not named. Ask the supplier to point at the line in the report that covers each SKU you are ordering.
What happens if goods arrive without correct documentation?
Outcomes range from a customs hold pending paperwork, through re-testing at your cost, to refusal of entry and destruction. The severity depends on the market and the deficiency. This is why the documentation checks belong at quotation stage rather than at booking — a supplier who cannot produce reports for a sample order will not produce them for a container.
Related buyer guides
- MOQ, pricing and payment terms — what sets the minimum and how to read a quotation.
- Toy quality control and inspection — the check that sits before your balance payment.
- Sourcing RC and battery-powered toys — radio, battery and air-freight rules.
- How to source toys from China: a practical guide — the end-to-end process this fits into.
- Factory vs Trading Company — who holds the certificates matters more than you would expect.
- Shantou toy showroom guide — checking documents in person during a sample visit.