UKCA Testing - Toy Safety testing My journey so far!

[@AHeath-mp1td]

I want to thank you so much for this video, being at the start of selling my soft toys I didn't realise there was so much to it as safety has been my main Objective...I nearly decided against it but I've been told they're definitely good enough....so thank you so much xx

[@CrocreatebySarah]

You're very welcome I hope it helps in some way even if just a rough guide 😊

[@ArtisticKatz]

I just came across the website you mention. I paid to be a member. I wasn’t sure if I had to be a member in order to get the pack.. thanks for the tips!

[@Charlotte-zv9eg]

This is SO helpful. Thank you!!!!

[@CrocreatebySarah]

So glad it was helpful 🙂 if there's anything else youd like to know just ask 🙂

[@elizabethdallimore5238]

Thank u so much I’ve got the conformance ukca test kit

[@CrocreatebySarah]

You're very welcome. If you want to ask Any more questions or need any help let me know 😊

[@nathansymonds9970]

​@CrocreatebySarah hi, just a question if I may, if selling in the UK, do you only need the UKCA testing, or do you need ce for Northern Ireland?

[@thefunkyewe]

This is excellent, thank you! I am fairly new to crochet and would love to sell my plushies and toys legally and safely. Yes, the process is time consuming but so crucial so your video has been really helpful. Think I'll cry when I have to abuse and burn my creations tho'! One question I have for you which isn't clear on the website, do I need to buy a separate testing kit for each item or can you use the same template for certification for multiple use? Obviously if I need to test 10 items that's £420, which is quite a costly. Hope I've made sense. Thanks chuck 🙏🏻

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Buy one testing kit and reuse the forms inside for each plushie. Just one cost of I think £50 for all your designs :)

[@CrocreatebySarah]

What else do you want to know about CE and UKCA testing? Let me know in the comments

[@NativeCrayons]

I just start this journey, feeling completely lost 😅

[@DeeM82]

I’d love to see a more detailed example of the paperwork you need to do for the evidence of testing etc on your items please.

[@nataliescoles3237]

Hi! I'm in the process of testing and have stuffing that says "conforms to en71" and has the ce/ukca mark but doesnt say en71-3, do you know if this would be okay? Very lost lol

[@karib8539]

Very informative, just wondering was the little Ray done with £ shop wool, does that comply and have a certificate ❤

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Not pound shop wool it was a self striping yarn that has since been deemed unable to use due to the new reach annex and I don't sell this guy anymore. I mostly use Cygnet yarns now for my plushies when I sell them as they have all of the necessary certs 🙂. There's a few groups floating around that will also get yarn tested and you can buy the certificates so some poundland yarns may be tested but I couldn't be certain 🙂

[@leamassey-ayling6281]

thanks for the great advice, really helpful. One question tho, if you use the same wool to make various products do you have to test every variation?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi. Yes it's not necessarily about the wool it's also about the design itself. So every design regardless of whether it's made with the same wool needs testing. This is because varying components (size, limbs, placement of safety eyes etc) will directly affect the tests. Each design also needs it's own technical file. If you're using the same yarn foe the same design in a different colour you can however use due diligence for that colour and add it as a variation 🙂

[@alisongreenwood9556]

it's all very overwhelming. I would need a lot of help :(

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Take it one step at a time and join the Facebook group for sure

[@niffler8651]

Hey thank you so much for the video! Main thing for me after these tests is do i need to label all products with a UKCA tested label? or would it be ok to put one sign on the stall? :)

[@CrocreatebySarah]

They have to have a label on the packaging so a swing tag individually for each item as the label needs to include your address etc 😊

[@sandrabell2940]

The UKZA label needs to be on the toy itself

[@Joolziejoolz]

Hi, have you got an amazon link for the 19mm g clamps please? I can't find them. Just about to order my ukca kit. Thank you so much for this video x

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi the ones are used are below. The measurements are the length not the diameter of the clamp. I couldn't find any so I ordered these and measured them when they arrived (it was a gamble lol) providing they haven't changed them they should be OK Silverline VC22 G-Clamp 50 mm amzn.eu/d/6Xg0Wff

[@Joolziejoolz]

@Crocreate thank you. Ordered them. There was a deal £2.75 each but had to get 4. I printed everything out. Wow there's so much. I have questions though. If I can't get a EN71-3 for material or yarn I've used but they pass the tests are they still not legal? It will mean binning a lot of things I've made over last few years x

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hey sorry for the delayed reply. Yes unfortunately if you can't get chemical certificates for supplies you already have they are illegal to sell. You can send the fabric yarn etc off yourself to be tested however it is costly I think in the region of £150 per material

[@Sewlisalife]

Thank you for doing this video, I’m just debating if I want to start selling or not. If I was to make a variety of toys would I have to test each one individually (providing you use the same yarns)? I’ve just found the answers below, thank you

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi Lisa, it is a long and sometimes hard and confusing journey however I also found it extremely rewarding and it was another string in my bow. Its nice to have some integrity in your business when very few people do nowadays :)

[@Sewlisalife]

@@CrocreatebySarah - thanks for replying, I reckon there are a lot of people who don’t do it and sell regardless.

[@Reddishbear3870]

Do you have to have any labels on your teddies once they have passed the tests?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

This link will provide the best guidance on labels 🙂 www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking

[@tuckerpeters]

Hi out of curiosity, (not) finished watching yet so not sure its mentioned but) does every single item need testing (especially if using same materials etc)?? Thank you C

[@maicaleston9166]

Hi, many thanks for the video. Just purchased the test. Quick question, do you need to test the safety eyes? Thanks

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi, yes the safety eyes do need to be tested it should tell you underneath the tension tests section. If they're 6mm and under its 7.2kg anything over that is 11kg I think if I remember rightly :)

[@rachelwelsby5581]

hey I'm wondering if you could answer this message for me as I'm puzzled and wanted to see what other UK crocheters views were on it? Ive received the UKCA testing guide and looking through the form now I can't find a definitive answer to this. In the case of fire strip tests - if you have tested one colour and it passes the test it doesn't state that it is mandatory to have to test all the other colours of the same brand? This is also the case for sausage samples and the exact same yarn brand. If this passes there is also nothing stating that it's mandatory to have to test all the other colours from the same brand? I'm assuming this is what the due diligence section is for and also cross reference section. I understand it's at your risk not testing the rest even though the one colour passed but it's not a mandatory thing to comply to.

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Testing each individual colour isn't mandatory unless the yarns used have separate EN71 certificates for different colours. Some yarn companies only test 1 colour. Your due dilligance would apply however not sure legally how it would gold up against trading standards. Might be worth double checking with a solicitor just in case 👍🏻🙂

[@sandrabell2940]

Sorry to jump in here, but every colour used has to be flammability tested.even if it's all the same make. Different colours use different mixes of colours, which can react differently to fire

[@jenniferking6989]

When you’ve done all the testing at home do you have to send off the results to someone to check please

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi, you don't have to send them off to be checked but you do need to keep a technical file. This ensures that if you are spot checked or anyone proceeds to make a claim against you you have all the evidence to back yourself and your product up 🙂👍🏻

[@Just-Ashje]

Thank you so much for your video, a friend of mine who lives in the UK just informed me about this as i might move there in the future and she struggles with her itself. After reading up on it, and seeing your video I'm wondering tho, if i make a toy, i usually just make one, do you have to do all the tests, including the fire test, with every creation when you use the exact same products, same yarn, same filling? I'd understand the weight test and choking hazard one with each product, but if you use the same yarn and filling the fire test shouldnt have to be done all on creations right? 🤔

[@CrocreatebySarah]

I'm so glad you found the video useful. The first test although uou are using the same yarn and stuffing is about the Flammability of the material and the burn rate. So although you are using the same yarn and stuffing the different designs with determine a different burn rate and its the burn rate that designs whether the toy passes. For example a very large toy may have a burn rate of 6 seconds where a very small toy may burn to the tip instantly. It's this rate that determines a pass or fail. Hope that helps

[@harpiehunter9428]

Hi, thanks for your video! I noticed that your design has safety eyes, do the eyes need to be subjected to any specific tests?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Yes they do they have to be weight tested and how much weight depends on the size of the eye 👍🏻🙂

[@jaszczurkha]

@@CrocreatebySarah they need to be tested for en71-3 too so you can only buy ones with testing or send them yourself to laboratory which is about £500 for each :)

[@sammiesmagiccrochet]

I'm on a very tight budget due to being on disability and I really want to make some little toys. How many toys am I going to have to destroy because you mention about having to burn one that's been washed and one that hasn't. It seems a shame to make 2 or 3 toys, the cost and effort and then set them on fire...x

[@CrocreatebySarah]

You need to make 2 samples of every design (so for example if you wanted to make and sell 10 octopus, 10 frogs and 10 cows, you would need to make 2 of each as a sample to test) unfortunately yes it might seem like a waste however it is a legal requirement to selling handmade toys 🙂

[@MeerkatGirl93]

This video is so helpful thank you! I am wondering though, you said each design has to be tested, does this apply to different colour variations? I'm probably just over thinking it but since the different colours would require a different material would that need a new test?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

So if its a different colour with the same yarn you can use due diligence to state that as the yarn is made upon the same fibres etc in a different colour it would act the same during all of the tests. If using a different yarn but the same design that design with the different yarn will also need testing as you can't be sure how that yarn will act during the tests 🙂 hope that makes sense

[@MeerkatGirl93]

@@CrocreatebySarah Thank you so much! ^_^

[@tanyahuyton598]

Do you have to test if its for ornamental purposes not for playing with, for crocheting, felt and fabric teddys? I mean if you state that that is what its for

[@CrocreatebySarah]

If the item has play value (so if a child looks at something and wants to play with it) as cute characters often do then yes. Xmas decorations are different however you have to add relevant warnings on packaging. If for a keyring or any other ornamental product it must be tested unless permanently fixed to a base OR out of the price range of a toy for example collectable bears like steiff bears for example. Hopefully that makes sense? 🙂

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Just adding a warning will not suffice I'm afraid and could lead to prosecution from trading standards 😞

[@tanyahuyton598]

@CrocreatebySarah thank you for clarifying it. I want to make both but mainly ornamental. Thank you for the help and informative video really helps 😊

[@foreststar9]

Hi, is there any chance you could share the link to where you found the g clamps? I’m struggling to find ones with 19mm clamp pads

[@gavinmunro9690]

These were from amazon :)

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi Dani, as Gav says above these were from Amazon. It was a bit of a lucky guess as they don't come with the plate diameter in the description :)

[@jessicavinerx7766]

This video is so helpful thank you :) I’m just wondering do you have to set all designs on fire, If it’s made with the same yarn as another that was fire tested would that be acceptable? It really seems a shame that I will be spending time making items that will just get completely wrecked. I also wondered if you need CE testing when selling patterns? Xx

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi, unfortunately yes you do need to set all designs on fire. The issue isn't just the yarn it's how the toy is constructed. For example you might have a long toy with 4 limbs that will burn slower than a shorter toy with 4 limbs. It's not just about the yarn but the burn rate of the design itself. I appreciate its a lot of time and effort however it is the law 🙂 also you have to think you only have to do these tests for each design so once you've done them you can make as many of that design as you like 👍🏻 you don't need to CE test patterns as you're writing the recipe the CE test is for the construction 🙂

[@Thatcrochetgamer]

Just starting my crochet business journey! Do I need to do this for everything I make, as I’m mainly using cygnet yarn which is already certified and the toy stuffing I’m using already has the ce mark? It’s so confusing 😅😅

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi Alice, you'll need to keep the certificates in your technical file. You only need to test every design so if you made a frog for instance you would only need to test it once and you could make 100 of the same design to sell if that makes sense? It's your technical file that needs to be robust :)

[@DeeM82]

I’m confused about the lighting on fire one. If you’re only testing on one design how do you do a burn test on a washed item when it’s already been burned?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

You have to make 2 prototypes as the tests have to be done on a washed and unwashed prototype. I always make 2 of the design 🙂👍🏻

[@DeeM82]

That’s so disheartening. The money and time spent on making the item, especially if it’s like 30cm or more. Is it just the fire test you need to do on washed and unwashed, or all the tests? Also, I get having to do that for each different item, but what if it’s the same concept ie dog stuffie and a fox stuffie made by the same design and materials, they are the same toy, just different animal, do you still need to do one of each, or just one cause they’re practically the same?

[@tuckerpeters]

Also ive googled a little and it says not all crochet needs testing only toys ??

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi, if you make the same design of a toy it only needs to be tested once if youre using the same yarn for each toy, and you can use due diligence for different yarn colours. Every design needs testing to comply with the law, for instance if you make a cow a bunny and a frog each would need testing as the designs and how they are made are different. Anything with play value (including things like keyrings and bunting) must be tested as if a child sees it as being playable with then it's illegal not to have testing. That is unless the toy is permanently fixed to a solid base for instance mounted on wood or in a glass conch. But yes not everything needs testing for example bags or clothing wouldn't need testing :) hope that helps

[@sandrabell2940]

Anything a child could pick up and play with would need testing IE keyrings

[@R3ddit0rium]

Do you need public product liability insurance? I’ve seen some people say yes and some people say no so I’ve no idea what to do! xx

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Hi Emma. Public and product liability insurance is not a legal requirement. However most markets / companies will make this a requirement if you sell with them. For instance I'm selling at the Birmingham NEC this weekend and I'm required to have insurance. Its THE most sensible thing you can do for your business. It covers, products, loss of earnings, complaints, anything you can think of :) it's definitely a must for a serious business

[@meganmay2205]

Do you have to test every single crochet teddy or is it just once for the business?

[@CrocreatebySarah]

You have to test every design and design variation. So if you made a bear that would be one design but if you made a bunny you'd need to test that design also its a minefield but good to be legal 😊

[@lorraineshakespeare5887]

Do you need to purchase a kit for every design toy you maje

[@CrocreatebySarah]

Good question! You purchase the testing kit once. And have to test every design not every toy. Feel free to ask any more questions you have 😊

[@meganwiseman4524]

@@CrocreatebySarah just wondering, so is it 1 testing kit per design. So £45 per design? xx