How to obtain an EU EN71 test report for bubble gun toys?
Date：2026-10-20 10:03:54 Classification
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EU EN71 Testing for Bubble Gun Toys
Bubble guns are classified as toys intended for children under 14 years of age and are therefore regulated under the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. EN71 serves as the testing standard; the outcome is a test report rather than a standalone certificate. Once a compliant test report is obtained, the manufacturer must prepare an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and affix the CE mark to the product before it can be placed on the EU market. As bubble guns contain bubble solution—a component frequently targeted during EU market surveillance—the plastic gun body, any inks or coatings, and the bubble solution must be tested separately; they cannot be combined into a single sample.
Recommended EN71 Testing Scope for Bubble Guns
1. EN71-1: Mechanical and Physical Properties
Evaluates risks such as small parts, sharp edges or points, tensile and torsional strength, drop resistance, and potential suffocation hazards from packaging films. Stricter requirements apply to products intended for children under 3 years of age.
2. EN71-2: Flammability
Tests the burning rate of the plastic gun body and any fabric components.
3. EN71-3: Migration of Certain Elements (19 Migratable Heavy Metals)
Requires separate testing for the plastic gun body, surface coatings/inks, and the bubble solution.
4. EN71-17: Preservatives in Aqueous-based Toys (Mandatory for Bubble Guns)
Regulates the presence of isothiazolinone-based preservatives (such as MIT, CIT, and BIT) in the bubble solution—a frequent focus of EU market surveillance in recent years.
5. Additional Requirement for Electric Bubble Guns: EN62115 – Safety of Electric Toys
Covers aspects such as electrical circuitry, heat generation, and short-circuit protection.
Optional/Additional Testing: Depending on specific client or e-commerce platform requirements, further testing may be conducted, including EN71-9/10/11 (organic chemical compounds), REACH SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern), POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), and phthalate content. Required Documentation
1. Testing Application Form (template provided by the laboratory)
2. Product Information: Model number, applicable age range, product photographs, and Bill of Materials (BOM)
3. Bubble solution formula and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
4. Drafts of product labels and instruction manuals
5. Information regarding the commissioning party (reports can be issued in both Chinese and English)
Sample Preparation
Prepare 3 to 5 complete, finished product units, including the bubble gun, bubble solution bottle(s), the bubble solution itself, and the outer packaging. Additionally, provide a separate, standalone sample of the bubble solution for liquid-specific testing.
Products that share the same materials and bubble solution formula—differing only in exterior color—may be covered by a single EN71 test report. However, any change to the bubble solution formula necessitates the submission of new samples for re-testing.
Full Process
1. Preliminary Assessment: Submit the product’s Bill of Materials and the bubble solution formula. The laboratory will identify homogeneous materials and confirm the required tests, costs, and turnaround time.
2. Sign the service agreement, pay the testing fees, and ship the samples.
3. The laboratory conducts tests covering mechanical and physical properties, flammability, heavy metals, and preservatives. For battery-operated (electric) models, EN62115 electrical safety testing is also required.
4. Upon passing the tests, a CNAS-accredited EN71 test report (in Chinese and English) will be issued. If the product fails, it may be re-tested after the raw materials are adjusted or corrected.
5. Based on the passing report, the company must draft a Declaration of Conformity (DoC), compile a technical file, and affix the CE mark to the product. This technical file must be retained for at least 10 years to satisfy requirements from customs authorities, market regulators, or audits by platforms such as Amazon Europe.
Turnaround Time
For manual bubble guns, the standard turnaround time is 5–7 business days.
Key Report Requirements
It is highly recommended to choose a laboratory with CNAS accreditation—such as DTi (CNAS registration number: L8083)—to ensure high report credibility. Such reports are widely accepted for EU market spot checks, client factory audits, and reviews by cross-border e-commerce platforms. The report must provide separate test results for the plastic components of the gun, the printing inks, and the bubble solution.
Common Pitfalls
1. Testing only the plastic casing of the bubble gun while neglecting the bubble solution; such reports are invalid for EU regulatory compliance. 2. Excessive levels of preservatives in bubble solution are the most common reason for the recall of bubble toys by the European Union.
3. Electric bubble guns are sometimes tested only against the three basic EN 71 standards, while failing to undergo the required EN 62115 electrical safety testing; this leads to a determination of non-compliance during customs inspections.
4. Continuing to use an old compliance report after the formula for the bubble solution has been altered creates a compliance risk.
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