A foil balloon intended for retail distribution or a child-facing campaign is classified as a toy in the EU and UK markets. That classification brings the SKU inside toy safety legislation, and it means the importer needs a test report for the specific sample under the EN71 standard. Without that report, a shipment can be held at the border or recalled from retail.
This briefing covers what the three parts of EN71 cover, how the chemical migration test works, how the toy safety documentation interacts with the biodegradable line, and the sourcing parameters we apply to a custom printed or custom shaped balloon program. The test reports we hold for the foil and biodegradable lines are listed in Section 7. Numeric specifications and MOQ thresholds in this briefing are confirmed at quotation stage.
For Importers
Why the toy classification applies, what EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3 cover, and how the test report ties to the SKU being imported.
For Procurement Teams
The test reports we hold, the MOQ framework for a custom program, and how the toy safety file combines with the biodegradable documentation.
1. Why Toy Safety Applies to a Foil Balloon SKU
In the EU and UK markets, a product that is designed or intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age is classified as a toy. A celebration balloon sold at retail for a child's birthday falls inside that definition. The classification brings the SKU inside the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC in the EU and the corresponding UK toy safety framework.
A product that is classified as a toy has to demonstrate compliance with the applicable EN71 parts, and the importer has to hold the test report that documents the compliance. The report has to cover the sample being imported. A report on a different sample does not satisfy the requirement for a specific SKU, so the coverage question comes up in every import file.
For a B2B buyer, the practical consequence is that the toy safety file is a required part of the sourcing package, not an optional add-on. A supplier that can supply the report from the same factory that runs the production line makes the file simpler to assemble than a supplier that sources from multiple workshops.
2. What EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3 Cover
The EN71 standard is a multi-part document. For a foil balloon SKU, three parts govern the safety file.
Mechanical and Physical Properties
Covers seam strength, puncture resistance, and the behaviour of the film under inflation. The test is designed to confirm that the material does not shear into sharp fragments or produce a small-part hazard. The mechanical profile of a foil balloon film is set by the film build and the seam weld, both of which are confirmed at quotation stage for a given design.
Flammability
Restricts the spread of flame across the toy material. A foil balloon film is a thin polymer laminate, and the flammability behaviour depends on the polymer structure and the ink system. The film build we use on the foil and biodegradable foil lines is documented in the test report listed in Section 7.
Migration of Certain Elements
Regulates the leaching of regulated heavy metals from toy materials into saliva or a gastric fluid simulant. The test procedure is described in Section 3. The EN71 report we hold for the foil balloon sample covers Parts 1, 2, and 3, and is listed in Section 7.
For a material-level comparison of the two balloon film categories, see the compostable foil balloons vs latex comparison.
3. How the EN71-3 Migration Test Works
The EN71 Part 3 test measures the migration of regulated elements from the toy material into a simulated body fluid. The procedure involves immersing a sample of the material in an acidic gastric fluid simulant for a defined contact period, then measuring the concentration of each regulated element in the liquid using an analytical method such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.
The regulated element list and the migration limits depend on the material category. The limits for a scraped-off toy material category under the current version of the standard are set out in the table below. The limits are the ones specified in the standard, and they are the values the test report measures against.
| Regulated Element | EN71-3 Category III Migration Limit |
|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | The limit for this element is specified in the standard and applied in the test report for the sample. |
| Cadmium (Cd) | The limit for this element is specified in the standard and applied in the test report for the sample. |
| Mercury (Hg) | The limit for this element is specified in the standard and applied in the test report for the sample. |
| Arsenic (As) | The limit for this element is specified in the standard and applied in the test report for the sample. |
| Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) | The limit for this element is specified in the standard and applied in the test report for the sample. |
The EN71 report we hold is SGS report number SHTY130500007975-01. Coverage: foil balloon sample, EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3. The report documents the measured result for the tested sample against the limits in the standard. Coverage of a specific SKU by the report is confirmed at quotation stage. A buyer who needs the measured result for a destination market's compliance file can request the report copy at the quotation stage.
4. Toy Safety on the Biodegradable Line
A biodegradable foil balloon is still a foil balloon from the toy safety point of view. The toy classification does not change because the film is compostable. The EN71 file is therefore required on the biodegradable line as well.
On top of the toy safety file, a biodegradable SKU has an end-of-life documentation requirement that a conventional foil balloon does not have. The biodegradation report we hold for the biodegradable line is ISO 14855-1:2012, SGS report number SHMR220700361301. Coverage: PLA degrading balloon sample under controlled industrial composting conditions. Test material average biodegradation 77.8% within a 45-day test period.
The RoHS report we hold is RoHS (EU) 2015/863, SGS report number SHAHG2207652301. Coverage: tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. The RoHS report covers restricted substances, and the EN71 Part 3 report covers the heavy metal migration test. The two reports cover different questions and are separate items in the compliance file.
For a market-by-market comparison of home and industrial composting pathways, see the compostable balloons home vs industrial guide. For the full material build, see the biodegradable foil balloons whitepaper.
5. Sourcing Parameters for a Custom Printed or Shaped Program
A custom printed or custom shaped balloon program runs the print line and the sealing line against a defined order. The print setup is a calibration process, so the MOQ threshold matters for unit economics. We set the MOQ per program rather than publish a single number, because the threshold depends on the design and the tooling.
The MOQ for a custom printed or custom shaped program is confirmed at quotation stage. The production lead time for a given order and the shipping mode (FCL or LCL) are also confirmed at quotation stage.
Printing on a foil balloon is executed with water-based, heavy-metal-free inks. The color count, print registration tolerance, and the color match verification method for a given program are confirmed at quotation stage. The ink system we use is documented in the RoHS report listed in Section 7.
6. Quality Control on a Toy-Classified SKU
A toy-classified SKU has a quality control requirement on top of the general balloon QC. The two areas that matter most are the seam and the valve, because a mechanical failure at either point can create a small-part hazard.
Seam Weld
The sealing dies run a closed-loop temperature controller linked to a multi-point thermocouple array. The weld temperature and dwell time for a given design are confirmed at quotation stage.
Valve Assembly
The self-sealing valve is welded into the seam during production. The valve position and the flange weld specification for a given design are confirmed at quotation stage.
Batch Inspection
Batch samples from each production run are held under an inflation pressure inspection for a controlled window before packaging. The sampling plan and inspection window for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage.
7. Test Reports We Hold
- EN71 — SGS report number SHTY130500007975-01. Coverage: foil balloon sample, EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
- RoHS (EU) 2015/863 — SGS report number SHAHG2207652301. Coverage: tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
- Biodegradation (ISO 14855-1:2012) — SGS report number SHMR220700361301. Coverage: PLA degrading balloon sample under controlled industrial composting conditions. Test material average biodegradation 77.8% within a 45-day test period.
- PEBA member — Pro Environment Balloon Alliance member.
If a destination market requires a standard outside this list, tell us at the quotation stage and we will confirm whether it can be arranged for the program.
8. Toy Safety Sourcing FAQ
9. Related Reading
Requesting an EN71 report copy or a toy safety documentation package for a balloon program?
Email xia@foilballoon.cnResponse within one business day · Sample service available
About FAIR — Kunshan Fair Craft Products Co., Ltd.
FAIR is a balloon manufacturer based in Kunshan, China, producing foil balloons, custom shaped foil balloons, PLA-based biodegradable foil balloons, and custom printed balloon products for global brands, event companies, retail chains, and wholesale novelty distributors. For inquiries: xia@foilballoon.cn