Soft, slow-rising, and squishy toys face increasing global scrutiny because their polymeric and foam materials readily release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
With recent UK enforcement actions and China setting explicit airborne emission limits under GB 6675.1-2025, chemical off-gassing must now be addressed during product design rather than as a final check.
How China’s GB 6675.1-2025 Compares to other Major Markets' Standards
While the regulations in the US, EU & UK rely primarily on material content, migration limits, and specific substance restrictions, China’s updated framework introduces mandatory chamber-emission testing across finished toys.
| Feature / Region | China | European Union | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Standard | GB 6675.1-2025 (Safety of Toys - Part 1) | EN 71 Series & EU 2025/2509 (TSR) & REACH | Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 & Retained Law |
| Regulatory Approach | Direct finished-toy airborne emission limits | Chemical hazard bans & migration limits | Essential safety requirements, chemical risk reviews, & content restrictions |
| Targeted Compounds & Limits | Formaldehyde: 0.08 mg/m3 | Substance limits, for example: - Styrene migration: 0.77 mg/L - Wood formaldehyde: 0.062 mg/m3 General safety obligations & substance bans, for example: - Benzene content: 5 mg/kg | General safety obligations & substance bans, for example: - Benzene content: 5 mg/kg |
| Benzene: 0.06 mg/m3 | |||
| Toluene: 0.15 mg/m3 | |||
| Xylene: 0.20 mg/m3 | |||
| TVOC: 0.50 mg/m3 |
Recent EU and UK Enforcement
Aside from the market surveillance mentioned in our previous article, similar recalls were also published.
On June 25, 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards published a recall for “Squeezy Dumplings”. The outer layer contained 20 mg/kg of benzene, and the product was assessed as presenting a serious chemical risk; owners were advised to stop using it and keep it away from children. Furthermore, 5 more comparable products were also recalled due to excessive VOCs, including xylenes and styrene, invalid technical documentation, and insufficient labelling and marking:
All five imports were rejected at the border for non-compliance with the UK Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
The corresponding EU Safety Gate notification, SR/02073/26, concerned the same soft-polymer dumpling toy, notified by the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland. Authorities ordered sales to stop, and the distributor recalled the product from end users. The measured benzene concentration of 0.002%, equivalent to 20 mg/kg, was four times the 5 mg/kg limit applicable to benzene in toys.
Strategic Impact & SGS Compliance Solutions
Transitioning from bulk content analysis to chamber-based emission controls requires total supply chain alignment. Recent border rejections of squishy toys in the UK emphasize that lab testing alone is insufficient without matching technical documentation and quality controls.
SGS offers end-to-end solutions to ensure full compliance:
- Formulation Screening & Material Audits: SGS tests coatings, foams, adhesives, and polymers early in development to pinpoint off-gassing risks prior to assembly.
- Accredited Chamber & Bag Testing (GB/T 46509-2025): Utilizing specialized facilities, SGS performs chamber (气候舱法) and sampling-bag (气袋法) testing to measure finished-toy emissions.
- CCC & Global Market Harmonization: SGS assists with technical dossier preparation, supplier reviews, and unified global test packages covering GB 6675.1-2025, EU EN 71, and US ASTM F963 simultaneously.
With a global network of state-of-the-art toy testing laboratories and a CCC-accredited laboratory in Hong Kong, China, we can help to ensure that your toys can access global markets seamlessly.
For more information on our VOC and TVOC services, please contact our Sales team.
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