Start with the market and the exact SKU, then request the documents that prove the product was assessed for that market. EU buyers normally organize evidence around the toy-safety conformity process and technical documentation; US buyers organize evidence around applicable children’s-product testing and a Children’s Product Certificate. Neither market is served by a generic “certified” badge.
This is a buyer’s document workflow, not a legal opinion. The applicable requirements depend on the product’s construction, materials, intended age, packaging and destination. Confirm the final scope with the responsible economic operator, importer, laboratory or competent authority before release.
Freeze the product and market before asking for files
Put one line at the top of the request: model or SKU, product form (flat magnetic tiles or magnetic blocks), intended age grade, destination countries, packaging version and planned sales date. A report for a different shape mix or age grade may be genuine yet irrelevant. Keep the same reference sample, specification and artwork version attached to every document review.
- Exact model name, SKU and clear product photographs
- Piece count, dimensions, magnet location and accessories
- Materials, coatings, inks and packaging components
- Intended age grade, warnings and instructions
- EU member states or US sales channel and importer/responsible party
EU document path: conformity plus technical evidence
For toys placed on the EU market, begin with the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and the European Commission’s toy-safety guidance. Ask the responsible manufacturer or importer to identify the conformity route used for the exact SKU and to make the relevant technical documentation available for review.
- EU Declaration of Conformity identifying the product, legislation and responsible signatory
- Technical documentation or an index showing design, materials, risk assessment and applicable standards
- Applicable EN 71 test reports or other evidence, with model, sample and standard edition clearly stated
- Product traceability, manufacturer/importer details and required warnings or instructions
- CE marking and packaging/label artwork checked against the final version
Do not treat an EN 71 report as a blanket certificate for every magnetic set. Use the report’s sample description and scope, then compare it with the order specification. The EU process may also involve requirements outside the toy standard depending on the item and its materials.
US document path: testing plus the CPC
For US children’s products, use the CPSC’s third-party testing guidance and its Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) guidance. The exact tests depend on the product and applicable rules. A test report is supporting evidence; the responsible party issues the CPC and lists the rules, product identification, testing laboratory and certificate issuer.
- Complete third-party laboratory report(s) for the exact product and applicable rules
- Laboratory identity and accepted scope checked independently where required
- CPC draft or prior CPC format showing the responsible party and applicable rules
- Tracking-label and importer/manufacturer information for the production packaging
- Records linking the tested sample, production specification and order change controls
Do not describe a product as “CPSC certified.” The CPSC does not issue a general product certificate. Ask which party will issue the CPC and what evidence supports each listed rule.
Compare the two folders without merging them
Build a side-by-side matrix, but keep each market’s decision owner and terminology separate:
- EU: conformity route, Declaration of Conformity, technical file, applicable EN 71 evidence, CE and traceability.
- US: applicable CPSC rules, third-party test evidence, CPC, tracking information and responsible party records.
- Both: exact SKU, sample identity, age grade, materials, packaging version, dates and change control.
Shared laboratory work can reduce duplication, but it does not automatically satisfy both legal frameworks. Record which document supports which market and which evidence still needs confirmation.
Use a release gate before paying or shipping
- Mark each requested item received, missing or not applicable—with a reason.
- Match every report to the approved SKU, materials, age grade and packaging.
- Check issue dates, standard editions, amendments and any exclusions.
- Ask the responsible party to resolve gaps in writing; do not fill them with assumptions.
- Save the final documents, review sheet and approved specification together with the purchase order.
For a deeper authenticity check, use our toy test-report verification workflow. For the US-specific sequence, see the CPSC requirements buyer checklist; for EU importer questions, see the EN 71 importer checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CE mark the same as an EU toy test report?
No. A CE mark is a conformity marking; a test report is evidence for particular requirements and samples. The responsible economic operator must keep the applicable technical documentation and declaration of conformity.
Does a US test report replace a Children's Product Certificate?
No. A third-party test report supports the certification decision, while the responsible party issues the CPC based on applicable testing.
Can one report cover both EU and US sales?
Sometimes evidence can be useful in both markets, but coverage depends on the exact product, materials, age grade, standards and rules. Request a written scope review.
Send one SKU specification and ask the supplier or responsible party to label each file as EU evidence, US evidence, shared supporting evidence or still outstanding.