Toys under the Christmas tree: how standards ensure safe playtime fun
Last updated:
December 16, 2025
The days are getting shorter, lights are appearing in the streets, and wish lists are gradually being filled. For many children, Christmas is the time of year when toys take center stage. New games, stuffed animals, and building sets find their way under the Christmas tree, bringing wonder and joy. Behind this festive tradition, however, lies something that is rarely seen but is nonetheless essential: a comprehensive system of standards that ensures toys are safe to play with.
Toys are meant for discovering, experimenting, and playing. That is precisely why they must meet strict safety requirements. Young children put toys in their mouths, pull on them, drop them, or use them in ways other than intended. Without clear guidelines, this could pose risks such as choking hazards, sharp edges, or exposure to harmful substances.
In Europe, toy safety is regulated by law. But laws alone are not enough. They specify what must be safe, but not always how this is achieved in practice. This is where standards come in. Standards translate legal objectives into technical agreements that clarify how toys are designed, tested, and inspected.
The European standard series EN 71 plays a central role in the toy industry. These standards describe how toys are tested for various types of risks. Among other things, they address the mechanical and physical safety of toys, their flammability, and the presence of chemical substances.
What makes these standards special is the way in which they are established. They are developed in consultation between various stakeholders: manufacturers, testing laboratories, governments, experts, and representatives of consumer organizations. This means that not only technical feasibility is taken into account, but also the perspective of users and social expectations regarding child protection.
When buying toys, it is not necessary to know the standards or consult technical documents. That is not the intention. Standards mainly work behind the scenes. Their result can be seen in the CE marking on toys.
This marking means that the manufacturer declares that the toy complies with European safety regulations and has been assessed according to the relevant standards. The CE marking is not a quality label or additional guarantee, but it is an important sign that toys comply with the agreed safety conditions for sale on the European market.
Thanks to this system, consumers can be confident that toys that are correctly marketed meet strict safety requirements.
Today, toys are designed and manufactured worldwide. What is unwrapped in a Belgian living room in December may originate from an international production chain. Standards ensure that, despite this complexity, there is a single common safety basis for toys sold in Europe.
They enable toys to be tested and monitored in a consistent manner. When products do not meet the requirements, they can be withdrawn from the market. This happens in practice, demonstrating that standards play an active role in protecting children.
Toys are also evolving. New materials, innovative production methods, and changing play habits require constant attention to safety. That is why standards are regularly reviewed and updated. New insights from research and practical experience lead to stricter requirements or new testing methods.
This dynamic ensures that toy safety is not a static concept, but grows along with the realities of today and tomorrow.
During the Christmas season, everything revolves around being together, surprises, and fun. It goes without saying that toys should be safe — and that is precisely the result of years of collaboration and agreements behind the scenes.
Standards ensure that children can play carefree, without parents or grandparents having to delve into technical details. They form the silent foundation beneath every toy that ends up under the Christmas tree.
In this way, standards ensure that Christmas remains what it should be: a time of warmth, wonder, and carefree fun.
