Japan toy safety standards: What importers need to know

Testing is required for several toy categories to ensure they are not a health or safety hazard.

Importers looking to enter Japan's competitive toy market would do well to prioritize safety, and compliance is critical when sourcing products. The latter is particularly true with regard to the Japan Food Sanitation Law and the Safety Toy Standard, the two main sets of standards for Japan-bound toys.

Administered by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, JFSL is mandatory for toys for children 6 years and below that can come in direct contact with the mouth such as musical instruments, pacifiers, masks and rattles. The standard requires specifically paints and other surface coatings to be tested in an MHLW-approved laboratory.

The ST Standard, meanwhile, is a voluntary standard regulated by the Japan Toy Association (JTA) that covers mechanical and physical properties, flammability and chemical composition of toys for children aged 14 and under.

Compliant products are then awarded the ST Mark, which can be placed on the toy or packaging. Since this standard incorporates all the legal requirements from the JFSL, a product that complies with the ST standard is also compliant with the latter.

A recent podcast from international product testing and certification company SGS details the ins and outs of JFSL and ST compliance.

Japan is historically known as the third-largest toy market in the world.