AP(89)-1 — Toy Safety & Pigment Migration Testing
EN 71-3:2019 + A1:2021 · Migration of certain elements from toy materials — simulated gastric juice testing
Overview
AP(89)-1, the former designation for EN 71-3, is the European toy safety standard for the migration of certain elements from toy materials and components. The current version is EN 71-3:2019 + A1:2021. It applies to pigments used in toys, childcare articles, and any material a child may put in their mouth during normal or reasonably foreseeable use. The test simulates stomach conditions by extracting the material in 0.07M hydrochloric acid at 37°C for 2 hours, mimicking gastric juice ingestion by a child. This makes it one of the strictest pigment migration standards globally — especially for cadmium, lead, and chromium VI.
Scope
AP(89)-1 / EN 71-3 applies to:
- Toy materials — all accessible components of toys intended for children under 14 years
- Childcare articles — products intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, feeding, or sucking
- Three material categories:
- Category I: Dry, brittle, powder-like, or pliable materials (e.g., chalk, crayons, play dough, finger paints)
- Category II: Liquid or sticky materials (e.g., liquid paints, bubble solutions, slime, glue)
- Category III: Scraped-off materials (e.g., surface coatings, printed inks, polymer films that can be scraped off)
Migration Limits for 19 Elements (EN 71-3:2019 + A1:2021)
| Element | Category I Limit (mg/kg) | Category II Limit (mg/kg) | Category III Limit (mg/kg) | Key Impact on Pigments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (Al) | 5,625 | 1,406 | 70,000 | Lakes, alumina-treated pigments |
| Antimony (Sb) | 45 | 11.3 | 560 | Antimony trioxide (flame retardant synergy), some oxide pigments |
| Arsenic (As) | 3.8 | 0.9 | 47 | Impurity in some inorganic pigments, natural mineral pigments |
| Barium (Ba) | 1,500 | 375 | 18,750 | Barium sulfate extenders (PW21), lithopone (PW5) |
| Boron (B) | 1,200 | 300 | 15,000 | Minimal relevance to pigments |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 1.3 | 0.3 | 17 | Cadmium pigments impossible to pass (PO20, PY35, PR108) |
| Chromium (Cr) total | 37.5 | 9.4 | 460 | Chrome oxide (PG17), zinc chromate pigments |
| Chromium VI (Cr6+) | 0.02 | 0.005 | 0.053 | Extremely low — any Cr6+ contamination is a fail |
| Cobalt (Co) | 10.5 | 2.6 | 130 | Cobalt blue (PB28), cobalt green (PG26), Co-doped pigments |
| Copper (Cu) | 622.5 | 156 | 7,700 | Phthalocyanine blue/green (PB15:3, PG7 — Cu-based) |
| Lead (Pb) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 23 | Lead chromates impossible to pass (PY34, PR104) |
| Manganese (Mn) | 300 | 75 | 3,750 | Manganese violet (PV16), Mn-based pigments |
| Mercury (Hg) | 7.5 | 1.9 | 94 | Vermilion (PR106), Hg-Cd red |
| Nickel (Ni) | 75 | 18.8 | 930 | Nickel azo yellow (PY150 — typically low Ni; green gold PG10), nickel titanate |
| Selenium (Se) | 37.5 | 9.4 | 460 | Cadmium sulfoselenide (PO20) |
| Strontium (Sr) | 4,500 | 1,125 | 56,000 | Strontium chromate pigments |
| Tin (Sn) | 15,000 | 3,750 | 180,000 | Minimal relevance to pigments |
| Organic tin | 0.9 | 0.2 | 12 | Organotin stabilizers (PVC), not pigment-related |
| Zinc (Zn) | 3,750 | 938 | 46,000 | Zinc white (PW4), zinc chromate, Zn-containing mixed oxides |
⚠ Cadmium (17 ppm) and Chromium VI (0.053 ppm) — Virtually Impossible for Cadmium/Chromate Pigments
The Category III limit for cadmium is just 17 mg/kg and for hexavalent chromium is 0.053 mg/kg. These limits make it effectively impossible for cadmium pigments (PO20, PY35, PR108) or lead chromate pigments (PY34, PR104) to pass AP(89)-1 migration testing under any realistic formulation. The infinitesimal chromium VI limit of 0.053 ppm means that even trace Cr6+ contamination in chrome oxide green (PG17) — well below RoHS thresholds — will fail toy safety testing. Any pigment containing cadmium, lead, or chromium VI is fundamentally unsuitable for toy applications.
Affected Pigments & Safe Choices
| Pigment at Risk | CI Name | Failing Element | Limiting Category III Limit (mg/kg) | Status | Compliant Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Chromate Yellow | PY34 | Pb (23), Cr6+ (0.053) | Both fail catastrophically | PROHIBITED | PY151, PY184 (Bismuth Vanadate) |
| Lead Molybdate Red | PR104 | Pb (23), Cr6+ (0.053) | Both fail catastrophically | PROHIBITED | PR254 (DPP Red) |
| Cadmium Yellow | PY35 | Cd (17) | Cd content >> limit | PROHIBITED | PY184, PY110 |
| Cadmium Orange / Red | PO20 | Cd (17), Se (460) | Cd content >> limit | PROHIBITED | PO73, PR254 |
| Cobalt Blue | PB28 | Co (130) | Risk if high loading | RESTRICTED (USE-DEPENDENT) | PB29 (Ultramarine Blue) |
| Phthalocyanine Blue | PB15:3 | Cu (7,700) | Low risk, Cu well below limit at typical loading | COMPLIANT | — |
| Phthalocyanine Green | PG7 | Cu (7,700) | Low risk, Cu well below limit at typical loading | COMPLIANT | — |
| DPP Red | PR254 | None | Organic, no regulated metals | COMPLIANT | — |
| Quinacridone Violet | PV19 | None | Organic, no regulated metals | COMPLIANT | — |
| Iron Oxide Red | PR101 | Trace impurities | Verify Pb, As, Cd per batch | COMPLIANT (IF VERIFIED) | — |
| TiO₂ | PW6 | Trace impurities | Verify As, Sb, Pb per batch | COMPLIANT (IF VERIFIED) | — |
| Carbon Black | PBk7 | PAH content | Not covered by EN 71-3, but PAHs regulated separately | COMPLIANT | — |
Category Matters: Why Category III Limits Are Higher
Category III (scraped-off materials) has higher migration limits than Categories I and II because the ingestion scenario assumes less material is ingested via scraping versus direct mouthing or swallowing. However, for surface coatings and printed inks on toys, the scraped-off material scenario still applies, and Category III limits are the relevant benchmark. Always classify your material correctly before interpreting test results.
How to Comply
- Classify your material: Determine whether the pigmented material is Category I (dry/brittle), Category II (liquid/sticky), or Category III (scraped-off coating). This determines which limit set applies.
- Avoid prohibited pigments: Eliminate all lead chromates (PY34, PR104), cadmium pigments (PO20, PY35, PR108), mercury-based pigments (PR106), and chromium VI-containing pigments from any material intended for toys or childcare articles.
- Verify organic pigment purity: While organic pigments do not contain regulated metals by design, check for heavy metal impurities (Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cr6+) introduced during manufacture. Require CoA for every batch.
- Test inorganic pigment migration: For inorganic pigments (iron oxides, TiO₂, ultramarine, cobalt blue, mixed metal oxides), conduct EN 71-3 extraction and ICP-OES analysis to verify migration limits.
- Conduct extraction testing: Submit a representative sample to an accredited ISO 17025 laboratory for EN 71-3 migration testing (0.07M HCl, 37°C, 2 hours). Test all 19 elements.
- Monitor for updates: EN 71-3 is periodically revised. The 2021 amendment (A1:2021) lowered aluminum limits and added chromium VI limits. Stay current with European Committee for Standardization (CEN) publications.
Documentation Required
| Document | Purpose | Standard / Method |
|---|---|---|
| EN 71-3 Migration Test Report | Quantification of 19 elements after 0.07M HCl extraction | EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 (ISO 17025 lab) |
| Certificate of Analysis (CoA) | Heavy metal content per batch | ICP-OES per ISO 11885 |
| Material Classification Declaration | Statement identifying Category I / II / III | Per EN 71-3 definitions |
| Supplier Regulatory Declaration | Written statement that pigment meets EN 71-3 limits | Supplier-specific; should reference test data |
| PAH Test Report (if applicable) | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content | EN 71-13 or AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK (Germany) |
| EN 71-9 / EN 71-11 (if applicable) | Organic chemical migration tests for specific toy categories | EN 71-9:2005+A1:2007 (preservatives, solvents, monomers) |
Toy-Safe Pigments, Batch-Tested
Our EN 71-3 compliant pigment portfolio ships with full migration test reports. Cadmium-free, lead-free, and toy-safe by design.