Plastic Accessories Safety Test: Ensuring Safety In Plush Toy Production

Have you ever picked up a cute plush toy, touched its plastic eyes or nose, and had a fleeting thought: “Are these small parts secure? What if my child pulls them off?”

This worry is perfectly normal, especially when choosing toys for children, where safety always comes first.

In fact, the plastic components behind every reputable plush toy undergo a series of rigorous safety tests—and this is crucial to ensuring foolproof play for children.

Safety testing of plastic components is a multi-dimensional, systematic process.

For example, at a large plush toy factory in China, every batch of plastic eyes, buttons, and fittings undergoes physical property testing.

Workers use specialized equipment to measure the hardness and tensile strength of the parts to ensure they resist breaking or falling apart even if bitten or pulled, fundamentally preventing the risk of accidental swallowing by young children.

Chemical safety is equally important. We rigorously screen plastics for harmful substances like lead, mercury, and phthalates—all of which can have long-term health effects if exposed to children.

For this reason, factories routinely send accessory samples to third-party laboratories for toxicological analysis using sophisticated methods like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to ensure the materials are pure, non-toxic, and odorless.

Different regions have their own stringent standards for toy safety.

For example, plush toys exported to the EU must comply with the EN71 standard, which details the chemical composition, mechanical and physical properties, and even the hygienic attributes of plastic components.

A plastic nose must not only be durable but also pass skin contact simulation tests to ensure it’s non-allergenic and non-irritating.

In the United States, ASTM F963 is the mainstream safety standard.

It specifically focuses on the adhesion strength of small parts, such as buttons or zippers, to ensure they remain stable after repeated pulling.

In China, the national standard GB 6675 also sets clear requirements for plastic toy accessories, including size limits, heavy metal content, and flame retardancy. Compliance with these standards is not only a regulatory requirement but also a manifestation of brand responsibility.

Today, more and more factories are adopting high-tech methods to improve testing accuracy and efficiency.

For example, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers (XRF) can quickly screen for heavy metals in plastic parts during production, enabling real-time monitoring and significantly reducing the rate of defective products.

Another common practice is simulation testing: a robotic arm repeatedly twists and pulls plastic eyes or accessories, simulating the various movements a child might use them, to verify their durability.

Through these “torture tests,” engineers can identify potential defects early on and optimize the structure and materials from the design perspective.

As an overseas buyer, it’s crucial to choose a supplier that prioritizes safety and transparently adheres to regulatory compliance.

Excellent plush toy factories proactively provide test reports for plastic components, clearly stating the international standards they adhere to.

Before placing an order, consider asking directly, “Have your plastic eyes passed the pull test? Are they compliant with EN71 or ASTM F963?”

These simple questions can help you identify a truly reliable partner.

As a major global plush toy production center, China boasts numerous manufacturers with extensive experience in international safety certification.

They understand global market demands and are able to flexibly adapt to different regional standards.

If you’re looking to purchase or customize plush toys, prioritize factories that prioritize safety and are willing to invest in testing—this is crucial not only for product compliance but also for trust.