CE Marking
Baby & Toddler
France 🇫🇷

Assign product to the correct directive(s) and EN standard(s)Required

Assign your baby product to the applicable frameworks: cots → EN 716 (Parts 1-2) under the General Product Safety Directive; changing tables → EN 12221 (Parts 1-2); highchairs → EN 14988; baby walkers → EN 1273; baby carriers → EN 13209 (Parts 1-2); baby toys → Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC with EN 71 (Parts 1-14); protective baby items → PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425; electronic baby monitors → Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU and EMC Directive 2014/30/EU. Many products fall under multiple standards simultaneously — e.g., a highchair with play elements requires both EN 14988 and EN 71.

Assess Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and EN 71 applicabilityRequired

Check whether your baby product could additionally be classified as a toy (Jouet). The DGCCRF interprets the toy definition broadly: rattles (Hochets), teething rings (Anneaux de dentition), mobiles, play arches (Arches d'eveil), bath toys (Jouets de bain), and activity centers fall under the Toy Safety Directive with all EN 71 requirements (mechanical/physical safety, flammability, chemical migration). For children under 36 months, enhanced small parts tests and strict chemical limits apply.

Check PPE Regulation and Low Voltage Directive (if applicable)

For protective baby products: Check whether the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 applies (e.g., bicycle helmets for toddlers, knee pads). PPE requires a conformity assessment involving a Notified Body (Organisme notifie) for Category II and III. For electronic baby monitors and video monitors: the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU (Directive basse tension) and the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU apply. WiFi-capable monitors additionally require the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU (Directive RED).

Assess mechanical safety and product-specific EN requirementsRequired

Check product-specific mechanical requirements: EN 716 (cots) — bar spacing 45-65 mm, no head/body entrapment points, mattress support strength; EN 12221 (changing units) — stability, side rail height min. 200 mm, load capacity min. 15 kg; EN 14988 (highchairs) — tip-over stability, 5-point harness anchorage, entrapment protection; EN 1273 (baby walkers) — speed limitation, stair fall protection, stability; EN 13209 (baby carriers) — harness system strength, leg openings, head and back support. For all products: no swallowable small parts (small parts cylinder test per EN 71-1 for under-36-months products).

Verify chemical safety requirements and REACH complianceRequired

Baby products in France are subject to the strictest chemical limits: heavy metal migration (EN 71-3 for toy classification), phthalates (max. 0.1% for DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP in all parts that can come into contact with the mouth), formaldehyde (max. 16 mg/kg for textiles for under-3-year-olds), BPA ban in food-contact materials (French Law No. 2012-1442), AZO dyes (REACH Annex XVII), and REACH SVHC Candidate List. France additionally has national restrictions for certain fragrances in children's products.

Engage a Notified Body (Organisme notifie)Required

For products under the Toy Safety Directive: EU type examination (Examen de type UE — Module B) by a Notified Body is mandatory when no harmonised standard exists or the product deviates from the standard. For PPE products (Category II/III): Notified Body involvement is always required. For childcare articles (cots, highchairs): Notified Body is not mandatory but strongly recommended. French Notified Bodies: LNE (Laboratoire National de Metrologie et d'Essais, NB 0071), Bureau Veritas (NB 0062), CRITT (NB 0501). International: TUeV, SGS, Intertek.

Conduct complete testing per all applicable EN standardsRequired

Testing must cover all relevant sections of applicable standards. Example highchair (EN 14988): stability test, entrapment tests, harness load test, durability test (10,000 cycles), chemical tests. Example cot (EN 716): bar spacing, mattress support strength, side height, entrapment protection, drop test, flammability. Example baby walker (EN 1273): speed test on inclined plane, stair fall simulation, stability test, small parts test. Submit at least 2-3 product samples as many tests are destructive.

Create EU Declaration of Conformity in French (Declaration de Conformite UE)Required

Create the DoC with the following mandatory information in French: product identification (Modele, Type, Numero de lot/serie), manufacturer name and address (Fabricant), EU authorised representative if applicable (Mandataire), statement of sole responsibility, applied directives with full designation (e.g., 'Directive 2009/48/CE relative a la securite des jouets'), applied harmonised standards (e.g., 'NF EN 14988:2017+A1:2020'), reference to Notified Body certificate and number, date and signature. The DoC must be retained for 10 years after placing on the market and must be available within 10 days upon DGCCRF request.

Compile technical documentation (Dossier technique)Required

The Dossier technique must contain: general product description (Description generale du produit), design and construction drawings, complete material list with suppliers, applied harmonised standards, risk assessment (Evaluation des risques), all test reports, EU type examination certificate (if applicable), manufacturing process description, quality control procedures, and the EU Declaration of Conformity. Documentation must be retained for 10 years and must be available in French or with French translation upon DGCCRF request.

Apply CE mark and safety warnings in FrenchRequired

The CE mark must be visible, legible, and indelibly affixed to the product (minimum height 5 mm). For toys: Notified Body number next to the CE mark. All warnings (Avertissements) must be in French: 'ATTENTION' (instead of 'WARNING'), 'Ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de 36 mois' (not suitable for children under 36 months) with warning symbol, specific hazard warnings such as 'Risque d'etouffement — Contient de petites pieces' (choking hazard — contains small parts), 'Risque de strangulation' (strangulation risk), maximum weight/age restrictions, and a complete user manual (Mode d'emploi) in French.

Ensure manufacturer/importer labelling and traceabilityRequired

Apply the following mandatory information on the product or packaging: manufacturer name and address (Fabricant) or importer (Importateur), batch/serial number (Numero de lot/Numero de serie) for traceability, model designation/type number, manufacturing date or code, and the Responsible Person data per GPSR (Regulation (EU) 2023/988). Since December 2024, GPSR data must be stored in all Amazon listings for baby products.

Amazon.fr Baby category approval and compliance document uploadRequired

The Baby category (Puericulture) on Amazon.fr is frequently restricted (Categorie restreinte). Apply for approval and upload the following documents in the Amazon Compliance Portal: EU Declaration of Conformity (Declaration de Conformite UE) in French, test reports, product photos showing visible CE marking and French warnings, Responsible Person data (GPSR), and the Notified Body certificate if applicable. Amazon may additionally require purchase invoices from authorized suppliers.

Complete listing fields and French-language product informationRequired

Complete all Amazon.fr mandatory fields: Responsible Person data (GPSR), confirm CE marking, age recommendation (Recommandation d'age), French safety warnings (Avertissements de securite), maximum weight limit, applied standards. All product texts, bullet points, and A+ Content must be in French. At least one listing image must show the CE marking and French warnings.