Mandatory standard updated
This mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023.
There is a transition period until 4 March 2025 for suppliers to adjust to the new requirements.
This mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023.
There is a transition period until 4 March 2025 for suppliers to adjust to the new requirements.
The mandatory standard applies to toys for children up to and including 36 months of age which have been:
Toys for children up to and including 36 months of age include but are not limited to:
The mandatory standard excludes:
This information is an overview of how to comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
View the full detail of the standard.
Some toys for children up to and including 36 months of age may also need to comply with other applicable mandatory standards and bans.
To make sure toys for children up to and including 36 months of age comply, suppliers should organise testing through specialist testing laboratories.
Toys for young children can come in many shapes, forms and materials. The toy itself and any parts of it that can come off must not be smaller than a certain size. This is because children under 36 months of age tend to place small parts into their mouths and can choke on or swallow them.
A small parts cylinder (31 mm in diameter and 57 mm long) is used to check if a small part is likely to be a choking or swallowing hazard. Manufacturers must make sure their toys comply with the mandatory standard.
In June 2022, 4 button battery safety and information standards became mandatory for all products that contain button or coin batteries. These standards apply to both button or coin batteries and products containing button or coin batteries. The Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023 places specific requirements on toys which contain batteries.
The mandatory standard requires all battery operated toys for children up to and including 36 months of age to have the battery compartment secured so that it can only be accessed by using a tool. This is because children up to 36 months of age can swallow small parts.
The mandatory standard gives some guidance on appropriate ages for using toys, referencing official United States age determination guidelines by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (PDF).
The mandatory standard, the Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023 sets out the requirements for toys for children up to and including 36 months of age.
The accompanying Explanatory Statement has further information.
A toy for children up to and including 36 months of age must comply with certain sections of one of the following voluntary standards:
In addition to complying with one of the above voluntary standards, suppliers must also comply with a section of the Electric Toy Standard: AS/NZS 62115:2018 Electric toys – Safety.
We can make a copy of these standards available for viewing at an ACCC office, subject to licensing conditions.
The mandatory standard was updated on 5 September 2023.
Under the new mandatory standard suppliers can choose to comply with sections of one of 4 listed voluntary Australian and overseas standards. Suppliers must also comply with a section of the Electric Toy Standard.
There is a transition period until 4 March 2025 to give suppliers a transition period to adjust to the new requirements.
Up to 4 March 2025 suppliers must comply with either:
From 5 March 2025 suppliers must only comply with the Consumer Goods (Toys for Children up to and including 36 Months of Age) Safety Standard 2023.
Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with a mandatory safety or information standard. For more information, see fines and penalties.
Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.