(EU) Council Directive of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys (88/378/EEC) (December 1, 2010)

This Directive lays down rules on the safety of toys and their free circulation within the European Community. It includes the definition of a toy and essential safety requirements, responsibilities of Member States, conformity assessment, reference to harmonized standards, procedures for dealing with non-compliant toys, use of the CE marking, Member States' obligations regarding inspection and reporting, and decisions to restrict market access. It applies to toys placed on the market in all Member States. A 'toy' is defined as any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age. Products listed in Annex I are not considered toys within the meaning of this Directive.