Test Achats warns: Cheap toys from Temu, Amazon & co are dangerous
Only 6 out of 20 toys pass the test!
Nearly three quarters of the toys on cheap websites such as Temu, Amazon, Shein and Wish are dangerous. Discount retailer Action also sells non-compliant toys. We tested 20 products, both plastic toys and plush cuddly toys, and no fewer than 14 of them turned out not to be safe for children.
Play is important for the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of children. However, it is essential that they can play in a safe environment with safe toys.
Unfortunately, that is where the problem lies. Our test shows that cheap toys from China do not comply with European safety requirements. Test Achats therefore advises you to think twice before doing your Christmas shopping in stores such as Action or on websites such as Shein, Amazon, Temu or Wish.
Young children discover the world with their senses: they grab, throw, pull, and put everything into their mouths, all without any awareness of possible danger. As a parent, you must therefore carefully check what you place in your child’s hands.
Fortunately, the toy industry in Europe is one of the safest in the world. Thanks to Directive 2009/48/EC, strict requirements apply to toys, both regarding chemical substances and mechanical and physical risks.
At the end of November 2025, new rules were approved in Europe to better protect children’s health: customs controls will become stricter and toys will receive a digital passport to improve traceability. This passport must prove that a toy complies with the applicable safety regulations.
The CE mark should be an indication of quality. It means that the manufacturer promises to comply with safety requirements, but unfortunately this is not systematically verified by an independent body. In addition, Safety Gate, the EU’s rapid alert system, removes toys flagged as unsafe by the member states from the market.
Unfortunately, platforms such as Amazon, Shein, Wish and Temu, as well as price-cutters like Action, ensure that non-European sellers also have direct access to our market. Most plastic toys sold in Europe come from Chinese factories.
Centexbel tests Toy Safety
A recent test of 20 toy products (plastic toys, plush toys, wooden playsets) shows that 14 out of 20 do not comply with European safety standards. The research focused on the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC, which imposes strict requirements for both chemical substances and mechanical and physical risks.
How was the testing done?
On behalf of Test Achats, the Centexbel laboratory simulated the play behaviour of children under the age of three and performed standardised tests:
- Fall test: dropping the toy five times to detect breakage and loose parts.
- Pull test & Twist test: checking whether components detach.
- Inspection of sharp edges after impact.
- Check for swallowable parts using a test cylinder.
- For plush toys: seam strength, detachable eyes/nose, and cord length (max. 220 mm).
Mechanical hazards
- Risk of suffocation due to small parts or loose stuffing.
- Strangulation risk due to cords that are too long.
- Injury risk from sharp edges or pinched fingers.
Chemical hazards
According to the Toy Safety Directive and REACH, certain substances are prohibited or restricted. Nevertheless, risks were identified such as:
- Phthalates (plasticisers, endocrine disruptors).
- Heavy metals (lead, cadmium – neurotoxic and carcinogenic).
- PAHs (carcinogenic, especially in black rubber).
- Bisphenol A, nitrosamines, formaldehyde.
- PFAS and allergenic fragrances (extra banned under new EU rules from late 2025).
Conclusion
Cheap toys from platforms such as Temu, Shein, Wish, Amazon and discounters such as Action pose a serious risk.
To support the CE mark, new measures such as digital passports and stricter customs controls must improve traceability.
Challenge us!
Inge and Stijn closely follow the Toy Safety Directive and REACH legislation. They make the difference!
