← Blog · 2026-11-02
compliance · EU · EN71
EU compliance is the part of globe sourcing where importers most often assume the supplier has handled something that the supplier legally cannot handle. Here is what to collect, and who is responsible for what.
Under the General Product Safety Regulation, consumer products placed on the EU market need an EU-based economic operator who can be contacted by authorities, plus traceability information that lets a product be identified and traced. For an importer this usually means your own company, or a fulfilment or authorised representative service.
What to collect from the factory: product identification details, batch or production references, and manufacturer contact information suitable for printing on the product or packaging.
EN71 covers mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and migration of certain elements. It applies to toys. A globe sold as a decorative or educational object for adults is not automatically a toy — but the way you present it decides how authorities read it. Marketing copy, packaging and age labelling all count as evidence.
Practical rule: if a child could reasonably be expected to play with it, test it as a toy. Childrens globes should be tested as toys from the start.
REACH obligations sit with the EU importer. What the factory can supply is material information — what the sphere, stand, ring, paint and adhesives are made of — plus test reports for substances of concern. Ask for the report that names the materials, not a generic conformity document.
If the globe contains electronics — an LED module, wiring, a switch, a USB or mains supply — RoHS restrictions on hazardous substances are likely to apply, along with other electrical requirements. Confirm with your laboratory which directives cover your exact configuration, and ask the factory for a component-level statement rather than a product-level claim.
The CE mark is placed by the economic operator bringing the product to the EU market. A Chinese factory can prepare and supply the technical file and test reports, and can print the mark on packaging if you instruct it to, but the legal responsibility remains yours. Suppliers who offer to "handle CE for you" are usually describing documentation support, not legal responsibility.
Testing the wrong model. A report for a 20 cm political globe does not cover a 30 cm illuminated one.
Treating EN71 as universal. It is a toy standard. Applying it to an adult decorative globe is not wrong, but it is not the whole picture either.
Leaving GPSR to the factory. The factory cannot appoint an EU responsible person for you. If you have not arranged one, your shipment has a gap regardless of how many test reports you hold.
LEQI supplies EN71 / REACH / RoHS documentation for EU shipments and holds ISO 9001 and SMETA 2-Pillar audits. See our EU compliance page or ask for the document set for a specific model.
GPSR applies to consumer products placed on the EU market, which includes globes sold to consumers. In practice it means you need an EU-based responsible economic operator, traceability information on the product or packaging, and technical documentation available on request.
EN71 is the toy safety standard. It applies when the product is designed for or marketed to children under 14 — for example a childrens educational globe. An adult decorative globe is not a toy, but if your catalogue or packaging presents it for children, expect to be treated as one.
RoHS restricts hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. A globe with an LED module, wiring and a power supply or battery is likely to fall within scope. Confirm with your testing laboratory which directives apply to your exact configuration.
No. CE marking is the responsibility of the economic operator placing the product on the EU market — normally the importer or the brand owner. The factory supplies test reports and technical files; it cannot assume your legal role.