Importing toys from China: CE, EN 71 and TAREKS guide
CE marking, EN 71 test reports, Turkish warnings and TAREKS inspection: a toy importer’s checklist.
Importing toys from China is not like importing an ordinary product: toys are regulated for safety. A shipment with missing paperwork can be held at customs, and once the toys are on the market the responsibility sits with the importer. This guide covers what to know before you place an order.
Which rules apply?
In Türkiye, toys fall under the Toy Safety Regulation (Official Gazette, 04.10.2016, no. 29847). It covers products designed or intended for play by children under 14 and follows the European Union’s toy safety framework. To be placed on the market, a toy is expected to carry three things:
- CE marking: the manufacturer’s declaration that the toy meets the regulation.
- EC declaration of conformity: a written document naming the manufacturer, describing the product and listing the standards applied.
- Technical file: design, risk analysis and test results. The manufacturer keeps it for 10 years after the toy is placed on the market.
Your responsibility as the importer
The manufacturer makes the toy in China, but because you place it on the Turkish market, the regulation holds you responsible too. Before ordering, you should be able to answer these questions:
- Does the toy carry a CE marking, and do the manufacturer details belong to a real company?
- Will the supplier share the declaration of conformity and the relevant test reports?
- Will the product or packaging show the manufacturer and importer name and address, plus a type, batch or serial number?
- Are the Turkish instructions and safety warnings ready, including age and small-parts warnings?
- Do you have a system to keep a copy of the declaration and related documents for the period the regulation requires?
What do EN 71 tests measure?
Conformity is shown by testing against harmonised standards. The most common ones:
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| EN 71-1 | Mechanical and physical properties: small parts, sharp edges and points, choking and entrapment risks |
| EN 71-2 | Flammability: how the toy ignites and burns |
| EN 71-3 | Migration of certain elements: heavy metals that can come out of paint and surfaces |
| EN 62115 | Safety of electric toys (battery-powered and rechargeable) |
Which parts apply depends on the type of toy and the age group. So “we have an EN 71 report” is not enough: check that the report covers the exact model you will buy and comes from a current, recognised laboratory.
How does customs inspection work?
Imported toys are inspected under the Ministry of Trade’s Toy Import Inspection Communiqué through TAREKS, the risk-based control system for foreign trade, and according to risk analysis. In practice some shipments pass on a document check, while others may be sampled and sent for testing. The communiqué is updated from time to time, so confirm the current text and your broker’s view before shipping.
The most common problems are missing documents, a test report for a different model, and labels that do not meet the regulation. Collecting documents before shipping is far cheaper than discovering a problem while the shipment is at sea.
Documents to request from the supplier
- Current EC declaration of conformity
- Model-specific EN 71 (and EN 62115 if relevant) test reports
- Manufacturer’s legal name, address and business licence
- Sample of the product and packaging label (manufacturer, importer, batch number, warnings)
- Draft of the Turkish instructions
- Electrical safety documents if the toy uses batteries or charging
- Age grade and product classification details
Common mistakes
- Stopping at “it has CE”. Printing a logo is easy; ask to see the declaration and the report.
- Accepting another model’s report. A change of colour or material can make a test invalid.
- Leaving labels to the end. Plan Turkish warnings and importer details before production; fixing them in the warehouse often falls short.
- Skipping the sample. Without holding the product you cannot judge small parts, edges or smell.
- Being optimistic about age. Stricter rules apply to toys for children under three.
How Ahenza Global helps
For toys we work with suppliers whose CE marking and conformity documents have been checked, and we handle samples, quality control and customs together. See toy sourcing, quality control and samples and customs clearance and logistics. To verify a supplier first, read our factory verification checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is CE marking enough on its own?
No. CE only means something when it is backed by a declaration of conformity, a technical file and test results. Even if the mark is on the product, ask for the documents and check them per model.
Do all toys need the same tests?
No. Required tests depend on the toy’s type, material, age group and whether it is electric. A test laboratory or specialist advisor can tell you which parts of the standards apply.
What happens if documents are missing?
A product with missing or non-compliant documents may not be released for free circulation; the outcome depends on the case. That is why we recommend completing documents before shipping.
Is a sample mandatory?
The regulation does not require one separately, but seeing a sample before mass production is the cheapest insurance for both quality and safety.
Written by: the Ahenza Global team, an Antalya-based import and export company · Published: 1 October 2026
Related service: Toys and kids’ products sourcing · HS code and duty lookup: Turkish Ministry of Trade tariff search (TARA, in Turkish)
Note: This guide is general information. Regulations, tax rates and procedures change; check current texts and your customs broker before importing.
Source: Toy Safety Regulation (OG 04.10.2016, 29847; Turkish text).
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