China is the world’s leading producer of toys, with exports accounting for more than 70% of the global market and tens of billions of dollars annually. There are many importers who choose to import toys from China to get a good profit. However, some importers will have some mistakes and questions when purchasing toys from China, the following six key ideas can help make your import process more efficient and secure.

Importing toys from China to different countries requires knowledge of the local country’s tariff policy, as well as ensuring that the toys have certificates and accreditations in line with the importing country.

United States

Tariffs: Depending on the material and function of the toy, plastic toys are usually duty-free, but electronic toys may have tariffs of 2%-5%.

Certification Requirements:

• CPSIA compliance testing: to ensure that toys are non-toxic and lead-free, especially those aimed at children under the age of 12.
• ASTM F963 standard: This covers mechanical safety, labeling requirements, and testing for choking risks from small parts, for example.
• Third-party testing and CPC certificates: Importers are required to pass third-party laboratory testing and submit a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC), which is indispensable for customs clearance.

European Union

Tariffs: Tariffs on toys are usually 4.7%, but electronic toys can be higher.

Certification Requirements:

• CE marking and EN71 standards: this is the key to accessing the EU market. en71 is divided into several sections, including physical tests (e.g. durability and edge safety) and chemical tests (e.g. lead, cadmium levels).
• REACH regulation: Any toy that involves dyes, paints or plasticizers must pass rigorous chemical testing.
• Traceability requirements: packaging and the toy itself need to be labeled with the manufacturer’s information and the contact details of an authorized EU representative.

Canada

Tariffs: Average tariffs are around 8-9%, with certain categories such as educational toys potentially benefiting from preferential rates or tax exemptions.

Certification Requirements:

• CCPSA regulations: all imported toys must meet Canadian Consumer Product Safety Act requirements, focusing on chemical composition and mechanical safety.
• Language Labeling: Packaging and instructions for use must be bilingual in French and English; any monolingual labeling may result in customs clearance delays or fines.
• Special Requirements for Magnetic Toys: If a toy contains a small magnet, it must pass a strength test and bear a warning label.

The toy import industry is prone to infringement problems, especially when it comes to popular brands and characters. Toys such as the Disney and Marvel series can cause infringement, and the following are some of the more common infringement scenarios:

Disney, Marvel and other related toys

In the production of toys in China, it is important to select suppliers with brand authorization to work with, and to ensure that the supplier can provide the relevant licenses or authorization agreements.

Popular Toys of the Moment

As trends change, certain toys may quickly become popular, such as characters and elements based on film, television, anime or video games. Unauthorized manufacturers often quickly copy these popular designs to capture market share, leading to infringement.

Regularly check that popular toys are licensed with up-to-date copyrights and avoid buying from unauthorized suppliers.

Simple customization of stock toys

“Customized toys” offered by vendors may be at risk of infringement, particularly if the customized toys use unauthorized designs or trademarks. For example, some vendors allow consumers to print their favorite designs on off-the-shelf toys, but these designs may have copyright implications.

For any customized toys, ensure that the patterns uploaded by the user do not contain copyrighted content from third parties. Provide a library of clearly copyrighted material for users to choose from.

Design your own unique toys

Some businesses choose to design and manufacture their own unique toys, which may involve some innovative shapes, features, or types of toys. However, in these innovative designs, pre-existing patents or trademarks may be inadvertently infringed.

During the design process, merchants are advised to conduct patent searches to ensure that the products they design do not infringe on existing patents. This can be done through the Patent Office database.

If the merchant has designed a unique toy, he/she may consider registering his/her own trademark to ensure independence and legitimacy in the market.

Before re-importing toys for shipment, third-party testing organizations must be invited to test the quality of the supplier’s toys to ensure unnecessary losses during shipment. Then not all testing organizations can meet the requirements of high quality testing. Their common shortcomings may affect the reliability and accuracy of product quality testing.

1. Lack of transparency and communication: Clients are not able to clearly understand each step of the testing process, especially when problems arise, and the lack of detailed feedback on test data makes it difficult to judge whether the testing is fair and comprehensive.
2. Lack of rigorous quality control: The lack of continuous monitoring of quality control by some testing organizations in the case of high-volume production may miss quality problems in some batches, resulting in problems not being detected and resolved in a timely manner.
3. Outdated technology and equipment: Many testing organizations use equipment and technology that do not meet the latest industry standards, which may result in an inability to accurately test the safety and compliance of products, thereby overlooking some potential quality risks.

For the above reasons, it is recommended that you choose E-fond Trading as your third party for toy testing, E-fond Trading has 19 years of experience as a one-stop shop for manufacturing and inspecting toys, with a major client base from the US and EU. They know their products very well and have strict quality control.

• The testing process of each sample is recorded in detail, including photographs and videos, which can be viewed by customers at any time to ensure the transparency and reliability of the testing process.
• They not only strictly control the testing of the final product but also monitor the raw materials and each production process from the beginning of production to ensure that no unqualified materials enter the product.

The weight and volume of toys are key factors in determining the mode of transportation when choosing the right logistics method. Choosing the right transportation channel not only ensures that the goods arrive on time, but also helps companies reduce costs. For shipping goods from China, you may also want to check this article: Find the best solution for shipping from China

Light toys （1-5kg）

For lighter weight toys, especially small and lightweight products, express logistics is usually the most appropriate choice. Courier logistics offers high shipping speeds and can usually deliver goods within 7-15 days. For orders that need to be processed quickly, express logistics is the preferred option, and express couriers often provide real-time shipment tracking information.

Medium toys （5-20kg）

For medium-sized toys, ocean freight is the most cost-effective option. Although ocean freight takes relatively longer, it is cheaper and suitable for customers who require less timeliness and have larger orders. Ocean freight usually takes weeks or even months!

Heavy toys （over 20kg）

For heavier toys, especially products that are large and weigh more than 20kg, rail and sea transportation are often better options. Rail transportation is very efficient in inland transportation and is suitable for cross-border shipments, while sea freight is suitable for global transportation of bulk commodities.

Check out E-fond Trading Transportation Solutions. E-fond Trading not only has extensive experience in shipping products around the globe, but also maintains long-term relationships with several shipping, ocean and air freight companies. Through these partnerships, E-fond Trading is able to obtain agency pricing advantages from shipping, ocean and air freight, thus providing customers with more competitive transportation costs.

E-fond Trading’s transportation options are highly flexible, allowing it to choose the most suitable logistics solution according to the customer’s specific needs. At the same time, E-fond Trading also provides full tracking services to ensure that customers can always keep track of the progress of transportation.

Toy suppliers on Alibaba offer products that cover a diverse range of types and styles. Because there are various types of suppliers on it, the process of screening suppliers is very tedious, and it takes a lot of time to communicate and study the qualification, customer feedback, product quality and production capacity of each supplier.

As a result, a dedicated sourcing team is often required to handle communication and transactions with different suppliers to ensure that the toys purchased meet the requirements.

If you don’t have a dedicated sourcing team, we recommend E-fond Trading, but if you’re more interested in streamlining the sourcing process, ensuring product quality, minimizing risk, and getting a great price, then E-fond Trading is definitely the better choice.

E-fond Trading has long-term cooperative suppliers who are able to provide customers with stable and high-quality products. Unlike the uncertainty on the platform, E-fond Trading is able to ensure a more consistent and reliable quality of products through these long-term cooperative suppliers.

E-fond Trading’s sourcing service not only includes product selection and quality inspection but also covers one-stop services such as transportation and logistics, customs clearance and declaration. Customers do not need to look for additional logistics companies or customs clearance agents, E-fond Trading can provide you with a complete solution, from supplier selection to product delivery can be responsible for the same team, greatly simplifying the procurement process, saving time and energy.

China produces various types of toys for different markets and age groups.

• Plastic toys: One of the most common categories of toys in China, ranging from figures and dolls to building blocks and vehicles. Factories in areas such as Shantou specialize in these products. Plastic toys are usually affordable and customizable, making them ideal for the mass market.
• Educational toys: such as puzzles, STEM kits, flash cards and Montessori sets. Factories in Yiwu and Ningbo specialize in the production of these toys, which are designed to stimulate children’s learning abilities and creativity. There is a high demand for educational toys from parents and schools. Buyers should look for age-appropriate products and certifications, such as ASTM F963 or EN71, to meet international safety requirements.
• Plush Toys: Yangzhou and other areas are known for producing plush toys, including teddy bears, character-themed stuffed animals and novelty items. These toys are made from a variety of materials, from cotton to eco-friendly recycled fabrics.
• Remote control and electronic toys: Products include remote control cars, drones, robots and educational toys. Known as the electronics center of China, Shenzhen is a major producer of these high-tech toys.

Minimum order quantities vary depending on the type of toy, complexity of production and material requirements. Typical minimum order quantities by category are listed below to give buyers an idea of what to expect:

• Plastic toys (e.g., action figures, building blocks) have high setup costs due to molds and machinery.The minimum order quantity for plastic toys is usually 1,000 to 5,000 pieces.
• Plush toys (e.g., stuffed animals, pillows)For plush toys, minimum order quantities usually range from 500 to 1,000 pieces. Production is labor-intensive but does not require expensive tooling, making it more suitable for smaller orders.
• for educational toys (e.g., puzzles, STEM kits).The MOQ for educational toys (e.g., puzzles, STEM kits) is typically 500 to 1,500 units. Vendors may offer lower MOQs for innovative educational toys to encourage market entry.
• Custom toys (e.g., personalized designs, licensed characters)Custom toys typically require a minimum order quantity of 5,000 or more because of the additional costs associated with creating custom molds, packaging, and IP compliance checks.

E-fond Trading can act as your professional negotiator and advocate, having built strong long-term partnerships with reliable suppliers. This gives them access to more competitive pricing and flexible minimum order quantities that are often unavailable to individual buyers.

They work to consolidate small orders or find suppliers who are willing to accept lower MOQs, allowing companies to test products or efficiently manage smaller inventories.

In addition to negotiated pricing and MOQs, E-fond Trading provides end-to-end support, including supplier selection, quality inspection and logistics. This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of your order is handled professionally, saving you time and reducing risk.