China's Four Child Health Rules, Including Toy Safety Standards, Take Effect November 1

China's State Administration for Market Regulation has approved four rules related to children's health, which take effect on November 1, 2026. Among them, updated toy safety standards introduce requirements for additional product types and a limit on total volatile organic compound emissions.

For mechanical and physical safety, the updated standards add technical requirements for toys with open-flame devices and toys shaped like food. They also set a total volatile organic compound emission limit of no more than 0.5 milligrams per cubic meter. According to the announcement, this is the first such limit proposed internationally for toy products, filling a gap in domestic and international toy standards.

What the changes mean for toy businesses

The additions bring specific product designs and emissions within the scope of the safety requirements described in the announcement. Manufacturers of the affected toy types may need to review their designs against the new technical requirements, while the emissions limit makes the release of volatile substances a further compliance consideration.

The practical impact will depend on the detailed requirements and how they apply to particular products. The announcement also identifies four child health rules, but provides details only about the toy safety changes described above.