EN71, CPSIA & REACH: Keychain Safety Certifications Explained

If you sell keychains in the US, Europe, Japan, or Korea, safety compliance is not optional — it is the difference between a smooth shipment and a customs hold. Here is what each certification covers and how to make sure your supplier can provide it.

Europe: EN71 & REACH

EN71 is the European toy safety standard. It covers mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and migration of certain elements. Keychains sold as children's items, or that may reasonably be handled by children, generally need EN71 test reports. REACH regulates chemicals — it limits substances like phthalates and heavy metals. Ask your supplier for both a REACH compliance statement and an EN71 test report.

United States: CPSIA

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) governs children's products sold in the US. It limits lead and phthalates and requires third-party testing for applicable products. A CPSIA-compliant test report and a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) are the documents importers and retailers usually request.

Japan: ST & food-grade compliance

Japan applies the ST standard (Safety Toy Mark) for toys and accessories, and Japanese retailers often request food-grade PVC — meaning materials safe even if a child puts them in the mouth. Phthalate-free and non-toxic material statements are standard requests for the Japanese market.

Korea: KC certification

Korea's KC (Korea Certification) mark is required for many consumer products, including toys and accessories marketed to children. Confirm with your importer whether your product falls under KC's scope before mass production.

Questions to ask your supplier

• Can you provide EN71 / CPSIA / REACH / ST / KC test reports?

• Are the PVC materials phthalate-free and heavy-metal-free?

• Can test reports be issued in the name of our importing company?

• Do you retest each production batch, or only the initial sample?