Toy warning labels by age group

Which rules apply to toys

Toys sold in the EU follow the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. Its successor, the Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, was published on 12 December 2025 and applies from 1 August 2030; until then the directive's rules for warnings and labels stay in force. Because toys have their own EU law, the GPSR label articles (Art. 9, 11 and 16) don't apply to the risks the toy rules cover — the toy rules set the label, and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 Art. 4 requires an economic operator in the EU whose contact details are on the toy, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document. GPSR still applies to online listings (Art. 19) and to risks the toy rules don't cover.

The basic rules for every toy warning

• Start with the word “Warning” (or “Warnings”) — Directive 2009/48/EC Art. 11(2). In other languages, use the word from that language version of the directive on EUR-Lex.
• Visible, legible, understandable and accurate, on the toy, a label fixed to it or the packaging, and where useful also in the instructions. Small toys sold without packaging carry the warning on the toy itself.
• Warnings that decide the purchase — such as the minimum and maximum age — must be visible before purchase, on the consumer packaging and in online offers.
• The user limitations include at least the minimum or maximum age, and where appropriate the user's abilities, maximum or minimum weight, and the need for adult supervision (Annex V Part A).
• Language: the member state where the toy is sold can require a language easily understood by its consumers — in practice its official language(s). See languages by country.
• Don't use a warning that contradicts the intended use: a toy designed for babies must not carry “not suitable for children under 36 months”.

0–3 years: toys made for babies and toddlers

A toy intended for children under 36 months must be safe for them — no small parts that fit in a small-parts cylinder, no long cords, and so on (that is a design and testing question under EN 71, not a label question). It therefore does not carry the under-3 warning.

Specific warnings that do occur for this age group:

• Toys strung across a cradle, cot or pram — printed on the packaging and permanently marked on the toy: “To prevent possible injury by entanglement, remove this toy when the child starts trying to get up on its hands and knees in a crawling position.” (Annex V Part B point 9)
• Plastic packaging and battery warnings where they apply, plus the manufacturer, EU operator, type and batch number.

3+ years: the “not suitable for children under 36 months” warning

A toy that could be dangerous for children under three — typically because it has small parts — and that young children might still play with, carries a warning such as (Annex V Part B point 1):

Warning. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Warning. Not suitable for children under three years.

or the 0–3 pictogram defined in the same point. Either way it must be followed by a brief indication of the specific hazard, which may be in the instructions — for example “Small parts. Choking hazard.” or “Long cord. Strangulation hazard.”

The warning is not needed on toys that are manifestly unsuitable for children under 36 months because of their function, size, characteristics or other reasons. Many sellers of toys for 3+ print the words and the pictogram together; the generator's Not for children under 3 — small parts warning (in 22 languages) and the 0–3 symbol do exactly that.

6+ and 8+: functional and chemical toys

Functional toys — toys that work like a real appliance or tool, scaled down — carry “Warning. To be used under the direct supervision of an adult.” (point 3). The instructions must also explain how they work, the precautions, and that they must be kept out of reach of children under an age set by the manufacturer.

Chemical toys — chemistry sets, plaster casting, crystal growing and similar — carry on the packaging “Warning. Not suitable for children under (age) years. For use under adult supervision.” (point 4), with the age set by the manufacturer. The instructions must contain warnings on the hazards of the chemicals, precautions and first aid.

Ages such as 8+ for many chemistry sets come from the harmonised standards (EN 71 parts) and the manufacturer's risk assessment, not from a single number in the directive — print the age your test report supports.

Toys for older children and particular toy types

• Skates, roller skates, inline skates, skateboards, scooters and toy bicycles sold as toys: “Warning. Protective equipment should be worn. Not to be used in traffic.” (point 5); the instructions remind users to be careful and recommend protective equipment.
• Activity toys (swings, slides, climbing frames for home use): “Warning. Only for domestic use.” (point 2), plus instructions on assembly, checks and maintenance and a suitable surface.
• Aquatic toys: “Warning. Only to be used in water in which the child is within its depth and under adult supervision.” (point 6)
• Toys in food: “Toy inside. Adult supervision recommended.” (point 7)
• Imitation protective masks and helmets: “This toy does not provide protection.” (point 8)
• Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits and gustative games with certain fragrances: “Contains fragrances that may cause allergies.” (point 10)

Points 2 to 10 must be used as worded in the directive (Art. 11(1)) — in each language, take the text from that language version of the directive on EUR-Lex rather than translating it yourself.

Some familiar toy warnings are not in the directive at all but in the harmonised standard EN 71-1 — the latex balloon warning is one. For those, take the wording from the standard or your test laboratory.

14+ and “not a toy”

A product intended for people aged 14 or over is generally not a toy under the directive (which covers products designed or intended for play by children under 14) — for example many detailed collector models. Such products fall under GPSR. A “not a toy” or “14+” statement does not by itself take a product out of the toy rules if it is obviously designed and marketed for children's play. If you label a product Not a toy, make sure its design, packaging and listing agree.

What changes under the new Toy Safety Regulation

Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 applies from 1 August 2030 (some parts earlier). For labels, the main changes are:

• A digital product passport for every toy, reached through a data carrier on the toy; it replaces the EU declaration of conformity.
• Warnings preceded by the word “Warning” or a generic pictogram — a black exclamation mark in a black triangle on a yellow background, at least 10 mm.
• Minimum text size for warnings (x-height at least 1.2 mm; 0.9 mm on small packs) and a specified 0–3 pictogram (at least 10 mm, red circle).
• The minimum age must always be stated.

Until 2030 the directive's rules apply; plan new packaging artwork with the new rules in mind.

Make the label

The toy label tool opens with the under-3 warning, the adult-supervision warning, and the CE and 0–3 symbols switched on. Remove what doesn't apply, add the specific warnings for your toy type in the Your own text box (one line per language, e.g. DE: Achtung! …), fill in the manufacturer, EU operator, type and batch, and download the PDF. A worked example: toy label example.