Overview
There are a number of approval marks for products that have been designed to give consumers greater confidence about the safety of toys and in some the origin of their manufacture.
This page provides an overview of approval marks currently in use.
Lion Mark
The Lion Mark was developed in 1988 by the British Toy & Hobby Association as a symbol of toy safety and quality for the consumer.
The Lion Mark may only be used by BTHA members. BTHA Members include many major international and European companies.
Lion Mark
Approved Lion Mark Retailer scheme
In 1991, the Toy Retailers Association joined with the BTHA in adapting the Lion Mark for use by retailers.
The symbol displayed in shops, in catalogues and in retailer advertising, indicates that the retailer has agreed to the Code of Practice and ensures that management and staff are briefed on toy safety matters such as age.
Approved Lion Mark Retailer Scheme
UKCA MARK
UK Conformity Assessed marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with the applicable requirements for products sold within Great Britain. UKCA marking became part of UK law on exit day, 31 January 2020, with the coming into force of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. Regulations 2019
UKNI MARK
The UKNI marking is a new conformity marking for products placed on the market in Northern Ireland which have undergone mandatory third-party conformity assessment by a body based in the UK.
CE Mark
This symbol, the CE Mark, usually together with the name and address of the manufacturer, is required by law to appear on all toys placed on the market in the European Union and is also accepted by the UK government.
There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what a CE Mark really means. The CE Mark was established to ensure a free market of toys right across the EU and the mark has sometimes been described as the ‘passport for product’.
It is the supplier’s statement that their toys meet the safety requirements of the European Toy Safety Directive, and that such toys are therefore entitled to free movement throughout the EU.
The CE Mark is intended mainly for enforcement authorities (Trading Standards Officers in the UK). It is NOT a claim of quality or safety.
The address (which must also be displayed with the CE Mark) enables the Trading Standards Officer to trace the supplier and demand the technical file if he has a query about the product.
