Selling Toys and Children's Products Online in Singapore: Rules

Which law covers toys and children's products

CPSO's CGSR overview says the regulations protect consumers from unsafe general consumer goods such as toys, children's products, apparel, sports and recreation products, furniture, mattresses and bedding, and DIY tools. CPSO is an office of the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS).

Some children's items fall under other agencies instead: CPSO lists children's car seats under the Land Transport Authority, and food-contact items, cosmetics and medical devices under SFA and HSA. If you also sell electrical items such as chargers or night lights, our guide to selling electrical products online and the SAFETY Mark covers those rules.

The safety standards toys must meet

Under the CGSR, general consumer goods must meet at least one applicable safety standard from ISO, IEC, EN (European Committee for Standardisation) or ASTM International, plus CPSO's additional requirements. Regional or national standards may be accepted where no international standard exists.

The CGSR Information Booklet is the document to keep. Its list is non-exhaustive, so if your product is not in it, look for the closest international standard and ask your supplier which one their test report covers.

CPSO's extra phthalate limits for toys

On top of the standards, CPSO's Consumer Goods Safety Requirements Notice No. 1 of 2011 sets chemical limits for plasticised (soft plastic) materials:

• In all toys and childcare articles: no more than 0.1% by mass each of DEHP, DBP or BBP.
• In toys and childcare articles that can be placed in the mouth: no more than 0.1% by mass each of DINP, DIDP or DnOP.
• A toy means any product designed or intended for play by children under 14.
• A toy or part smaller than 5 cm in one dimension counts as able to be placed in the mouth.
• A childcare article is a product for children's sleep, relaxation, hygiene, feeding or sucking.

Test reports: not filed, but expected

The CGSR does not require you to submit a test report before selling. In practice, CPSO's booklet says investigations into a possible non-compliance will include requests for test reports and information, to see whether you took reasonable steps to ensure the product complies.

1. 1

   Ask the supplier for a current test report

   It should name the product and model, the standard (for example EN 71-1, -2 and -3 or ASTM F963) and the testing laboratory.

2. 2

   Check the laboratory is accredited

   CPSO points to the Singapore Accreditation Council's database for accredited labs; overseas labs should be accredited by their national body.

3. 3

   Match the report to what you sell

   Same model, materials and colours. A report for a similar toy is not enough.

4. 4

   Ask for phthalate test results

   Soft plastic toys and items babies may mouth need evidence against CPSO's 0.1% limits.

5. 5

   File reports by SKU

   Keep a folder per product so you can answer a CPSO request within days.

For your own range, CPSO also suggests checking products for safety problems or defects before sale and providing warnings about potential hazards.

Age labels and warnings on product listings

Online shoppers cannot read the box before buying, so your listing has to carry the important warnings. Toy standards such as EN 71 and ISO 8124 include warning and age-marking requirements, and CPSO encourages suppliers to warn consumers about hazards.

Avoid claims you cannot prove, such as "non-toxic" or "100% safe". Misleading claims can also fall under Singapore's consumer protection rules on unfair practices. Your refund and returns terms matter too; our online store refund policy guide covers what to include.

Recalls and what to do when a product is flagged

CPSO publishes safety alerts and recalls for children's products. In 2026 these included an alert on baby self-feeding pillows (prop feeders) and recalls of high chairs, strollers, floats and pacifiers by brand owners.

• If you learn a product you sell is unsafe, CPSO's booklet says to stop selling it immediately and notify CPSO.
• If CPSO issues a public notice declaring goods unsafe, continuing to sell them from the following day is an offence.
• Failing to follow a CCS direction to stop supply or inform users of the danger is also an offence.
• A first offence can mean a fine up to S$2,000, up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both; repeat offences up to S$10,000 or 2 years.

Practically, unpublish the listing, check marketplace listings too, contact customers who bought the item using your order records, and keep a written record of what you did and when.

Do it yourself or get help?

The compliance work (supplier test reports, phthalate evidence, warnings) is yours or your supplier's; nobody can outsource the responsibility. The store side, where listings show the right warnings and you can pull a product and contact buyers quickly, is where a well-built shop helps.

IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience. Our Shopify Store package (S$1,890) sets up a branded store with up to 30 products from your spreadsheet, PayNow and card payments, shipping, policy pages and order notifications, so product details and warnings sit in a consistent place on every listing. Shopify fees are billed to you by Shopify. This guide is general information, not legal advice.