Importing wooden toys from China is straightforward once you know which documents and tests have to be in place before the container leaves. This guide follows the sequence we work through with first-time buyers, from the first enquiry to the arrival of the shipment.
1. Fix the specification before you talk about price
Unit price depends on material, size, finish, packing and quantity, so agree those first. Useful inputs are a target retail price, the age band you want to sell to, a reference sample or photo, and the number of pieces per item you expect to order in the first year. With those four points we can quote realistically rather than optimistically.
2. Age grading comes before testing
Toys are tested against the age band printed on the packaging, and the tests get stricter as the age drops. A toy sold for 3 years and over is treated differently from the same toy sold for 0 to 3, where small parts, cord lengths and the strength of joints all come under closer scrutiny. Decide the age band early, because changing it later normally means re-testing.
3. Testing: EN71 in the EU, ASTM F963 in the US
In the European Union the relevant standard is EN71: EN71-1 for mechanical and physical properties, EN71-2 for flammability and EN71-3 for migration of certain elements. In the United States the equivalent is ASTM F963. Test reports should be issued in the name of the company that will place the product on the market, and should describe the exact item you are importing rather than a similar one. More detail is on our wooden toy safety standards page.
4. The documents an import shipment needs
A normal sea shipment travels with a commercial invoice, a packing list and the bill of lading issued by the shipping line or forwarder. Depending on the destination you may also need a certificate of origin, and for toys specifically the EN71 or ASTM F963 test reports and the declaration of conformity. If your wood is FSC certified, or a retail customer asks for a social compliance audit, the FSC certificate and the BSCI report are pulled at the same time. Ask for all of them before production starts, not after the container is loaded.
5. Quality control before the container ships
Two inspections are worth paying for: one while production is partly finished, and a final inspection on packed cartons. The final inspection should check the count, the carton marks, that the barcodes scan, the paint and finish, and a sample of assembled items. A third-party inspection company can carry this out, or the buyer can attend in person. Our own factory in Yunhe runs in-line checks during production and a final check before packing.
6. Packaging and labelling
Retail packaging has to carry the CE mark for the EU, the importer name and address, the age warning and whatever else your market requires. Barcodes have to scan at the retail distribution centre, so send the artwork files early and ask for a printed proof. Export cartons need shipping marks, the item number, the quantity and the gross and net weight.
7. Agree the Incoterm before comparing prices
EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP quotes are not comparable. Under FOB the supplier delivers to the named port and the buyer arranges and pays the freight; under DDP the supplier delivers to your door and the price includes duty. Check which port and which term each quote uses before you compare numbers.
8. Mistakes that cost first-time buyers money
- Testing a prototype and then changing the material or the paint before mass production, which invalidates the report.
- Ordering packaging artwork after production, which holds the shipment up over a printed box.
- Assuming an age band without checking the retail channel, as many EU retailers ask for extra evidence on 0 to 3 toys.
- Comparing an FOB quote with a DDP quote.
The sourcing questions we are asked most often are answered on our wooden toy sourcing FAQ. If you already know the item you want, send it to us for a custom wooden toy quotation. Buyers who need stock rather than a new design can start from our wholesale wooden toys range, and product specifications are collected on the downloads page.
Related buying guides
- Selling Wooden Toys on Amazon US
- Shipping Wooden Toys from China: Incoterms and Cartons
- Retail-Ready Packaging and Labelling for Wooden Toys
Not sure which document or test applies to your order? Send the item and the destination market through the contact form and we will confirm the route.
For how those documents change from year to year, see the EU and US toy safety compliance update; the freight terms that decide the landed cost are in shipping wooden toys from China.
The documents themselves are set out market by market: CE marking and EN71 for Europe, CPSIA for the United States, and Canada and Australia for the other two markets covered here.