Toys
With the emergence of the single European Market an increasing number of British Standards have become harmonised with European Standards. This includes the British Standard for Toys which is known as BS EN 71 Safety of toys.
This means that the Standard is both a British (BS)and European (EN) Standard.
Since 1990 the European Community Directive (community law) for Toy Safety has set out the 'essential requirements' that toys must be manufactured in order to be legally sold within the European Community.
In the UK this directive is met through Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995. Toy manufacturers usually achieve this by ensuring their products satisfy all the requirements of BS EN 71. This requirement does not apply to second hand toys.
All toys must meet these minimum requirements and carry CE marking. CE marking is designed to remove European trade barriers by showing that the product complies with the European Directive. It is not a European safety or quality mark.
To help you understand what a Standard might cover here is BS EN 71 in the spotlight.
Further ideas to think about and tests you can carry out at home.