All products placed on the market must be safe for their intended and expected use. Toys must comply with the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2006, which implement the European Toys Safety Directive.

All toys must be accompanied by the CE mark. The CE mark was introduced to provide free movement of goods between member states of the European Union and is used by a number of New Approach Directives, not just for toys. It will also be found on electrical and medical products.

The mark must also be accompanied by the identifying name and address of the person or company responsible for first placing the toy on the market. This allows traceability back the responsible party in the event of any problems being subsequently identified.

Warnings and instructions

To ensure safe use, toys must carry appropriate warnings and instructions. These may often include the "0-3" warning symbol indicating that the toy to which it is attached is not suitable for children under 3 years of age.

This is the equivalent of the text warning "Not suitable for children under 36 months", which remains in general use for such toys. The intention of the symbol is to eventually replace the text warning, particularly where the warning appears in multiple languages.

Parents and guardians are advised to take heed of this warning when selecting or allowing their children to play with toys.