SG 144/26
South Korea has proposed revisions to its toy safety requirements.
In September 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) published Administrative Notice No. 2026-597 (the Notice) to amend the safety standards set out in Annex 6 (Toys) of the Safety Standards for Children’s Products Subject to Safety Verification.
What are the proposed changes?
Key changes include:
- Updating references to international standards and incorporating selected provisions, including:
- ISO 8124 for a) mechanical and physical properties, b) flammability, c) household swings, slides and similar activities and d) microbiological safety
- EN 71 for a) migration of certain elements, b) experimental sets for chemistry and related activities, c) chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets, d) finger paints, e) N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances, f) formamide, g) certain phosphorus flame retardants (TCEP, TCPP, TDCP), h) certain isothiazolinones (MIT, CIT, BIT), i) phenol and j) bisphenol A (BPA) migration
- ASTM F963-25 and IEC 62115:2017+A1:2025 for electric toy safety
- Lowering migration limits for aluminum and lead in all three toy material categories in Annex 6, Part 4 ‘Hazardous chemical materials’ (see Table 1 below)
- Specifying limit values for several restricted chemicals, including flame retardants, colorants, primary aromatic amines, solvents (migration and inhalation), wood preservatives, preservatives other than wood preservatives and plasticizers (migration)
- Lowering migration limits for BPA from 0.1 mg/L to 0.04 mg/L, formaldehyde from 2.5 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L and phenol from 15 mg/L to 5 mg/L
- Introducing rules for allergenic fragrances in a) toys in general and b) toys intended for use by children under 36 months or designed to be placed in the mouth
- Updating the microbiological safety requirements for toys containing liquids and products supplied as, or together with, toys that contain liquids, semi-solids, such as clay, or gels by introducing limits for total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total aerobic yeast and mould count (TAYC) in aqueous-based toy materials, as well as requirements for Salmonella spp. and Candida albicans
- Establishing requirements for toys intended for continuous oral contact, primarily sucking or chewing, by children under 18 months, such as teethers. The requirements would exclude trumpets, whistles and balloons, as well as feeding products, such as baby bottle teats, that are regulated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)
| Element | Toy material category | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (Dry, brittle, powder-like or pliable) | Category 2 (Liquid or sticky) | Category 3 (Scraped-off) | |
| Aluminum | 2,250 mg/kg (5,625 mg/kg )¹ | 560 mg/kg (1,406 mg/kg)¹ | 28,130 mg/kg (70,000 mg/kg)¹ |
| Lead | 2.0 mg/kg (13.5 mg/kg)¹ | 0.5 mg/kg (3.4 mg/kg)¹ | 23 mg/kg (160 mg/kg)¹ |
| 1Current limits are shown in parentheses | |||
Table 1. Proposed and current migration limits for aluminum and lead in toy materials
| Abbreviation | Name | CAS |
|---|---|---|
| BIT | 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one | 2634-33-5 |
| CIT | 5-chloro-2-methyl-isothiazolin-3(2H)-one | 26172-55-4 |
| MIT | 2-methylisothiazolin-3(2H)-one | 2682-20-4 |
| TCEP | tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate | 15-96-8 |
| TCPP | tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate | 13674-84-5 |
| TDCP | tris[2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate | 13674-87-8 |
Who is impacted?
The proposal would affect manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers placing toys on the South Korean market.
When is the deadline for comments?
Comments will be accepted until November 30, 2026.
When would it apply?
According to World Trade Organization document No. 26-6837, adoption is expected no earlier than November 2027, with entry into force expected no earlier than November 2028.
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