Guide to Toy and Children’s Product Standards in Australia

Planning to sell toys or other children’s products in Australia? In this guide, we explain what you must know about mandatory safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, testing, and other compliance requirements.

Australia Consumer Law

The Australia Consumer Law mandates that certain products comply with safety standards. Several safety standards exist for toys and other children’s products:

• Lead in toys
• Toys for children 0 to 36 months
• Aquatic toys
• Projectile toys
• Toys containing magnets
• Baby bath aids
• Babies dummies and dummies chains
• Baby walkers
• Car seats for children
• Infant sleep products
• Infant products
• Children’s nightwear
• Prams and strollers
• Swimming and floatation aids

Products covered by specific standards must comply with relevant safety requirements, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements.

Product bans

Certain products and substances are also subject to bans.

What if a children’s product is not covered by a safety standard?

Product safety standards do not exist for all children’s products sold in Australia. However, products deemed to be unsafe can be subject to swift bans and recalls. It is therefore in your best interest to ensure compliance with voluntary AS/NZS standards or international standards in such cases.

Toy Safety Standards

The following safety standards apply to toys imported or manufactured for sale in Australia:

Trade Practices Act 1974 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2009 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Lead and Certain Elements in Children’s Toys

This standard applies to children’s toys and sets the following requirements:

✅ Restricts lead and certain elements in children’s toys

✅ References AS/NZS ISO 8124.3:2003

Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023

This standard applies to children’s toys manufactured, designed, labelled or marketed for children up to 36 months of age and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2023 and AS/NZS 62115:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the EU standard EN 71‑1:2014+A1:2018 and AS/NZS 62115:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the international standard ISO 8124‑1:2022 and AS/NZS 62115:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the US standard ASTM F963 ‑ 17 and AS/NZS 62115:2018

Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020

This standard applies to aquatic toys (e.g. inflatable novelty shapes) and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the international standard SO 8124‑1:2018

✅ Warning formatting requirements

Consumer Goods (Projectile Toys) Safety Standard 2020

This standard applies to projectile toys – that is, toys capable of launching projectiles designed for children under 14 years of age – and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the EU standard EN 71‑1:2014 + A1:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the international standard ISO 8124‑1:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the US standard ASTM F963‑17

✅ Warning requirements

Consumer Goods (Toys Containing Magnets) Safety Standard 2020

This standard applies to magnetic toys designed for children under 14 years of age and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the EU standard EN 71‑1:2014+A1:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the international standard ISO 8124‑1:2018, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the US standard ASTM F963 ‑ 17

Children’s Products

Additional safety standards apply to other types of children’s products:

Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standards) Regulations 1979

This standard applies to balloon‑blowing kits, bean bags and related products, and plastic luggage straps and sets the requirements in the following areas:

✅ Warnings

✅ Consumer product safety standard for balloon‑blowing kits

✅ Consumer product safety standards for bean bags, bean bag covers and packages containing bean bag filling

✅ Consumer product safety standards for plastic luggage straps

✅ Warranties

Note that we could not find any information that specifies if some of these products must be designed specifically for children in order to be covered by these regulations. However, it is reasonable to assume that many balloon‑blowing kits are designed for children. That’s why we included these regulations in this guide.

Consumer Goods (Baby Bath Aids) Safety Standard 2017

This standard applies to baby bath aids and sets requirements in the following areas:

✅ Warnings

✅ Packaging

Consumer Goods (Babies’ Dummies and Dummy Chains) Safety Standard 2017

This standard applies to babies ‘dummies and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS 2432:2015, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the EU standard EN 1400:2013+A1:2014

The standard also applies to dummy chains and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the EU standard EN 12586:2007+A1:2011

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2013 – Safety Standard: Baby Walkers

This standard applies to baby walkers and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of the US standard ASTM F977‑12

Competition and Consumer Act 2010 – Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 2014 – Safety Standard: Child Restraint Systems for use in Motor Vehicles

This standard applies to child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS 1754:2013, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS 1754:2010, or

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS 1754:2004

Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2024

This standard applies to infant sleep products (e.g. folding cots, household cots, bassinets) and sets requirements in the following areas:

✅ General requirements (e.g. inclination, curvature, mattress, small and more)

✅ Specific requirements for bassinets (e.g. warnings, materials)

✅ Specific requirements for folding cots (e.g. compliance with mentioned standards)

✅ Specific requirements for household cots (e.g. compliance with mentioned standards)

Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 2024

This standard applies to infant sleep products and inclined non‑sleep products and sets requirements in the following areas:

✅ Information to be provided with the products

✅ Markings

✅ Warnings

Consumer Goods (Children’s Nightwear and Limited Daywear and Paper Patterns for Children’s Nightwear) Safety Standard 2017

This standard applies to children’s nightwear, limited daywear, and paper patterns used for children’s nightwear and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS 1249:2014

✅ Warnings

Consumer Product Safety Standard for Prams and Strollers

This standard applies to prams and strollers, and it mentions the following standard and variations to the standard:

✅ AS/NZS 2088:2000

Consumer Goods (Swimming and Flotation Aids) Safety Standard 2017

This standard applies to swimming and flotation aids and sets the following requirements:

✅ Compliance with the mentioned requirements of AS/NZS 1900:2014

Other Product Standards

Note that children’s products can also be subject to additional standards that are not specific to children’s products. For example, bicycle helmets for all age groups must comply with certain requirements. The same can be said about products containing button cell batteries.

Examples

• Button cell batteries
• Products containing button cell batteries
• Bicycles
• Bicycle helmets
• Basketball rings and backboards
• Movable soccer goals
• Textiles care labelling
• Portable swimming pools
• Sunglasses

DEHP Ban

DEHP is banned in plastic children’s products. This substance is a common cause of product recalls all over the world and can often be found in PVC and other soft plastics. DEHP can also be found in surface coatings.

The following product categories are covered by the DEHP ban:

• Toys
• Child care and soothing products
• Feeding and eating products

Third-party lab testing is generally required to verify a particular product contains DEHP.

Other Product Bans

The following products are also subject to bans:

• Small high-powered magnets
• Toys that inflate and contain beads
• Yo-yo water balls ban

AS/NZS Standards

AS/NZS standards set technical requirements for various toys and children’s products sold in Australia. As mentioned, certain standards reference AS/NZS standards meaning that these are mandatory. That said, there are also voluntary standards.

Toys

AS/NZS ISO 8124.1 – Safety of toys Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties

AS/NZS 8124.2 – Safety of toys – Flammability

AS/NZS ISO 8124.3 – Safety of Toys, Part 3: Migration of certain elements

AS/NZS 8124.4 – Safety of toys, Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities

AS/NZS ISO 8124.5 – Safety of toys, Part 5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets

AS/NZS ISO 8124.6 – Safety of toys, Part 6: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor family domestic use

AS/NZS ISO 8124.7 – Safety of Toys, Part 7: Requirements and test methods for finger paints

AS/NZS 8124.12 – Safety of toys, Part 12: Determination of total concentration of certain elements in toys

AS/NZS ISO 8124.13 – Safety of toys, Part 13: Microbiological safety

AS/NZS 62115 – Electric toys—Safety

Children’s Products

AS 2432 – Babies’ dummies

AS/NZS 1754 – Child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles

AS/NZS 2195 – Folding cots – Safety requirements

AS/NZS 2172 – Cots for household use – Safety Requirements

AS/NZS 4385 – Infants’ rocking cradles – Safety requirements

AS/NZS 8811.1 – Methods of testing infant products—Method 1: Sleep Surfaces—Test for firmness

AS/NZS 1249 – Children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard

AS/NZS 2088 – Prams and strollers – Safety requirements

AS/NZS 1900 – Flotation aids for water familiarization and swimming tuition

Testing Requirements

Toys and other children’s products sold in Australia must generally undergo testing according to requirements set by applicable product safety standards and referenced AS/NZS standards, EN standards, or ASTM standards.

The following may be relevant:

• Mechanical safety testing
• Small parts testing
• Flammability testing
• Lead testing
• DEHP testing
• Other substance tests

You will receive a test report that serves as a record of the testing process. The test report can be requested by the Australian Border Force (ABF), Amazon, or other entities to verify compliance with the applicable requirements.

FAQ

Which chemicals are restricted in toys and children’s products in Australia?

Restrictions and bans apply to lead, DEHP and other substances. The specific substance restrictions can be found in safety standards.

The ACCC has also issued guidelines on chemical contents in textiles, clothing and leather articles. You can learn more in this guide.

Is CE marking accepted for toys in Australia?

No, CE marking is a European Union compliance mark which indicates compliance with applicable EU regulations and directives. It is not a recognised compliance mark in Australia.

That said, some Australian product standards reference EN standards, which set the technical requirements for toys and other products that require CE marking. As such, a product that is technically compliant with EU requirements (and CE marked accordingly) may also meet Australian standards for toys.

However, companies importing and manufacturing toys for the Australian market must always comply with Australian regulatory requirements first and foremost.

Are EU toys and children’s product standards recognised in Australia?

Yes, some EU toys and children’s product standards are recognised in Australia. For example, we found that the Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023 allows you to choose to comply with some of the requirements of the EU standard EN 71‑1:2014+A1:2018, as an alternative to complying with the requirements of an Australian standard.

Are American toys and children’s product standards recognised in Australia?

Yes, as for EU standards, some toys and children’s product standards are also recognised in Australia. For example, we found that the Consumer Goods (Toys Containing Magnets) Safety Standard 2020 allows you to choose to comply with some of the requirements of the US standard ASTM F963 ‑ 17, instead of having to comply with the requirements of AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2019.

Are toys imported from China compliant with Australian standards?

No, not by default. What I mean by this is that Chinese manufacturers do not manufacture toys according to Australian safety standards or AS/NZS standards by default. That said, many Chinese manufacturers are capable of producing Australia-compliant products if they are provided with the following:

• Technical specifications based on Australian requirements
• Correctly designed label files
• Substance restrictions (lead, DEHP, etc)

It is your job as an Australian importer or manufacturer to actively manage the compliance process, from initial research to instructing your suppliers and final safety testing.

Can toys compliant with Australian standards be sold in New Zealand?

Australia and New Zealand share many product standards, specifically AS/NZS standards. That said, there are additional regulatory requirements and variations in the specific requirements that must be met for toys and children’s products in New Zealand.