GSO Toy Safety, ECAS & G-Mark Compliance Testing for the UAE and GCC Market

Every year, millions of toys are imported into and manufactured within the United Arab Emirates. To protect children from mechanical, chemical, and electrical hazards, the UAE enforces the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO) Technical Regulation for Toys (GTTR), which requires toys placed on the UAE and wider Gulf market to carry the Gulf Conformity Mark (G-Mark) under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS), administered by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). As an accredited toy testing laboratory in the UAE, METS Lab performs the mechanical, flammability, chemical, and electrical testing that underpins ECAS and G-Mark toy registration files, supporting manufacturers, importers, and distributors across the region. Our ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited laboratory evaluates toys and children’s products against the GSO EN 71 series adopted under the GTTR, covering mechanical and physical properties, flammability, migration of certain elements, organic chemical compounds, and N-nitrosamines, together with IEC 62115 electrical safety testing for battery-operated and electric toys. We also support export-oriented manufacturers with testing referenced to ASTM F963 and the EU Toy Safety Directive (EN 71 series) for products destined beyond the GCC. We deliver clear, standard-referenced test reports covering small-parts and choking hazard assessment, sharp point/edge evaluation, flammability performance, heavy metal migration, restricted chemical content, and electrical safety — the technical data needed to compile an ECAS/G-Mark toy registration file through the MoIAT portal or respond to a market surveillance query.

Our Core Toy Testing Services Include

• Mechanical & Physical Safety Testing (Small Parts, Sharp Points & Edges, Cords, Projectiles)
• Flammability Testing for Soft Toys, Costumes & Textile-Based Products
• Migration of Certain Elements (Heavy Metal) Testing
• Organic Chemical Compounds & Phthalate Content Testing
• N-Nitrosamines & N-Nitrosatable Substances Testing
• Electrical Safety Testing for Battery-Operated & Electric Toys
• Chemistry Sets & Chemical Toy (Non-Experimental) Testing
• Age Grading, Warning Label & Choking Hazard Labelling Review

Why Toy Testing is Important?

Mechanical & Physical Properties Testing

The largest share of toy-related injuries stems from mechanical hazards: small parts that detach and present a choking risk, sharp points or edges left by moulding or assembly, cords and elastics that pose an entanglement risk, and projectile toys that can cause impact injury. METS Lab evaluates toys and their components using small-parts cylinder testing, torque and tension testing on attached components, sharp point and edge testing, and drop/impact testing appropriate to the declared age grade, with reference to:

• Safety of Toys — Part 1: Mechanical and Physical Properties — GSO EN 71-1

Flammability Testing

Soft toys, textile-based products, and costumes must not present an undue fire hazard, and materials that do ignite must burn slowly enough to allow a child to be moved away from the flame source. METS Lab conducts flame-spread and burn-rate testing on toy fabrics, fillings, and surface materials in accordance with:

• Safety of Toys — Part 2: Flammability — GSO EN 71-2

Migration of Certain Elements (Heavy Metals)

Toy materials — from paints and coatings to plastics, textiles, and modelling compounds — are screened for the bioavailable migration of elements such as antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium, among others, since these can be absorbed by a child through sucking, licking, or swallowing. METS Lab performs migration testing across the three regulated toy-material categories (dry/brittle/powder-like/pliable, liquid/sticky, and scraped-off materials) with reference to:

• Safety of Toys — Part 3: Migration of Certain Elements — GSO EN 71-3

Organic Chemical Compounds & Phthalate Testing

Certain toy materials, particularly plasticised PVC and soft plastics, are restricted from containing specific phthalate plasticisers and other organic chemical substances above defined thresholds due to their potential health effects on children. METS Lab tests toy plastics, coatings, and finger paints for restricted organic chemical compounds, including phthalates, with reference to:

• Safety of Toys — Part 9: Organic Chemical Compounds — Requirements — GSO EN 71-9

N-Nitrosamines & N-Nitrosatable Substances Testing

Elastomer toy components intended for children under 36 months, or elastomer toys and parts intended to be placed in the mouth — such as balloons, teethers, and rubber figures — are tested for N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances, which can form from certain rubber vulcanisation accelerants and present a carcinogenic risk. METS Lab performs this testing with reference to:

• Safety of Toys — Part 12: N-Nitrosamines and N-Nitrosatable Substances — GSO EN 71-12

Electrical Safety Testing for Electric & Battery-Operated Toys

Battery-operated and mains-connected toys are assessed for accessible voltage, temperature rise, battery compartment security, insulation integrity, and mechanical strength of electrical components, to prevent shock, burn, or battery-ingestion hazards. METS Lab performs electrical safety testing for electric toys with reference to:

• Electric Toys — Safety — IEC 62115 (adopted under the GSO Technical Regulation for Toys)

Chemistry Sets & Chemical Toys

Experimental chemistry sets and other chemical toys — such as crystal-growing kits, soap-making sets, and modelling compounds — carry their own hazard profile around chemical exposure, labelling, and instructions for safe use. METS Lab evaluates these products with reference to:

• Safety of Toys — Part 4: Experimental Sets for Chemistry and Related Activities — GSO EN 71-4
• Safety of Toys — Part 5: Chemical Toys (Sets) Other Than Experimental Sets — GSO EN 71-5

Key Parameters in Toy Testing

METS Lab provides comprehensive toy safety testing across all major GSO EN 71 evaluation categories referenced under the GTTR. A typical toy registration file draws on several of the parameters below, selected according to the toy’s material, age grade, and function, summarized here.

Test Category	Reference Standard	What It Evaluates
Mechanical & Physical Properties	GSO EN 71-1	Small parts, sharp points/edges, cords, projectile toys, magnets
Flammability	GSO EN 71-2	Burn rate of soft toys, costumes, textile-based products
Migration of Elements	GSO EN 71-3	Bioavailable heavy metal migration across toy material categories
Organic Chemical Compounds	GSO EN 71-9	Restricted phthalates and organic chemical substances
N-Nitrosamines	GSO EN 71-12	Elastomer & mouth-contact toys for under-36-month age group
Electrical Safety	IEC 62115	Battery safety, temperature rise, insulation of electric toys
Chemical & Experimental Toys	GSO EN 71-4 / EN 71-5	Chemistry sets and non-experimental chemical toys

Products & Applications We Test

Our toy testing programme covers the product categories named in the GSO Technical Regulation for Toys, spanning the full range of products sold across UAE retail, e-commerce, and nursery/childcare channels:

• Plush & Soft Toys
• Dolls, Action Figures & Accessories
• Battery-Operated & Electronic Toys
• Ride-On & Wheeled Toys
• Building Sets & Construction Toys
• Outdoor & Activity Toys (Swings, Slides & Similar Play Equipment)
• Chemistry Sets & Science Experiment Kits
• Finger Paints & Modelling/Chemical Toys
• Baby & Toddler Toys (Teethers, Rattles, Bath Toys)
• Puzzles, Games & Educational Toys

Industries We Serve

Our facility provides specialized toy safety testing across the toy and children’s product supply chain. By supporting compliance with the GSO Technical Regulation for Toys and ECAS/G-Mark requirements, we help partners register products through MoIAT and access the UAE and wider GCC market. We regularly serve the following industries for toy testing services:

• Toy Manufacturers & Importers
• Retail & E-Commerce Toy Distributors
• Licensing & Promotional Product Companies
• Nursery, School & Childcare Product Suppliers
• Party, Novelty & Seasonal Product Suppliers

Why Choose METS Lab?

Comprehensive Reporting: Our detailed reports present mechanical, flammability, chemical, and electrical safety results in a format ready to support ECAS/G-Mark toy registration files submitted through the MoIAT portal. Expert Technical Team: Our scientists are experienced in interpreting the GSO EN 71 series, IEC 62115, and complementary international standards such as ASTM F963, and can advise on test matrix selection and standard applicability for your product and target market.

FAQ Section

What is the GSO Technical Regulation for Toys and who does it apply to?

The GSO Technical Regulation for Toys (GTTR) is the Gulf-wide regulation governing toy safety across GCC member states, including the UAE. It requires toys placed on the UAE market — from plush toys to electronic and ride-on toys — to meet mechanical, flammability, chemical, and (where applicable) electrical safety requirements before carrying the Gulf Conformity Mark (G-Mark).

What is ECAS/G-Mark and how does toy testing support it?

ECAS (the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme) is the UAE’s national conformity framework, administered by MOIAT, through which regulated products including toys obtain the G-Mark. A test report from an accredited laboratory such as METS Lab, covering the relevant GSO EN 71 parts and, where applicable, IEC 62115, is a core component of the technical file submitted for ECAS/G-Mark registration.

What testing is required to demonstrate toy safety compliance in the UAE?

Requirements depend on the toy’s material and function, but a typical qualification file draws on mechanical and physical properties testing (GSO EN 71-1), flammability testing where relevant (GSO EN 71-2), migration of certain elements (GSO EN 71-3), and organic chemical compound testing (GSO EN 71-9). Elastomer and mouth-contact toys for young children add N-nitrosamine testing (GSO EN 71-12), and battery-operated or electric toys require electrical safety testing to IEC 62115.

Is chemical testing such as heavy metals and phthalates mandatory for all toys?

Migration of certain elements (GSO EN 71-3) applies broadly across toy materials, while organic chemical compound and phthalate testing (GSO EN 71-9) and N-nitrosamine testing (GSO EN 71-12) apply according to the toy’s material composition and intended age group. METS Lab can confirm which chemical test parameters apply to your specific product and formulation.

Do electronic and battery-operated toys need additional testing?

Yes. Battery-operated and electric toys require electrical safety testing to IEC 62115, covering accessible voltage, temperature rise, battery compartment security, and insulation, in addition to the mechanical, flammability, and chemical testing that applies to toys generally.

How long does toy testing take?

Turnaround depends on the toy category and the number of test parameters selected. Mechanical, physical, and flammability testing is typically completed within one to two weeks, while chemical migration and electrical safety testing may take slightly longer depending on sample preparation and instrumentation scheduling. We provide a realistic timeline at project initiation based on your test matrix and target submission date.

Need GSO/ECAS toy safety testing for your product range? Share your project details with us, and we’ll provide a personalized quote to meet your requirements.