Are squishies safe? EU toy safety rules retailers should check in 2026

Are squishies toys under EU law?

In most cases, yes. The Toy Safety Directive covers products "designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age". A brightly coloured squishy shaped like a dumpling, an animal or a snack will usually fall under that definition, even if adults buy it as a stress reliever.

Products that are genuinely not toys fall under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which has applied since 13 December 2024. Which regime applies depends on how a product is designed, packaged and marketed, not only on a line of small print. If you are unsure about a specific item, ask the supplier how it was classified. This article is information as of November 2026, not legal advice.

What have studies found in squishies?

The best-known study is from Denmark. In August 2018 the Danish Environmental Protection Agency published report no. 164 on fragrances and other organic substances in squishy toys. It bought 43 different squishies and examined 12 of them in detail. In a scenario of a small child sleeping with a squishy in its arms, the emissions of dimethylformamide (DMF), triethylenediamine and cyclohexanone reached unacceptably high levels for all 12 products one hour after unpacking.

Sweden's chemicals agency KEMI also examined squishies, and on 8 June 2021 the European Commission published a final opinion of its scientific committee SCHEER, which reviewed the Danish and Swedish reports. The point for retailers: emissions from foam and gel toys have been a known topic for years, and they vary strongly from product to product.

What happened with squishy dumplings in 2026?

In July 2026 a test commissioned by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported xylene and benzene and naphthalene derivatives in squishy dumplings. Several retailers in Belgium and the Netherlands, including bol.com, Carrefour and Delhaize, removed products as a precaution. Belgium's FOD Economie said on 16 July that it saw no direct indications of a serious health risk that would justify a ban.

The Dutch NVWA wrote to sellers on 15 July 2026 that its laboratory had found volatile organic compounds in almost all products examined, and asked them to check safety documents with their suppliers. In an answer to parliament dated 31 August 2026, the Dutch government noted that 30 squishies had been sampled at random and stressed: a CE marking is not a mark of approval. On 24 September 2026 the NVWA's findings were reported: 19 squishies tested, only small amounts found, and a child can safely sleep in a room with several of them. Airing out products with a strong smell was recommended.

Separately, Stiftung Warentest summarised EU Safety Gate alerts on 26 September 2026: detachable small parts, benzene and other volatile substances, water beads and sand fillings. Many of the products named carried no supplier address. The NVWA also warns against a social media trend of heating squishies in the microwave, because hot fillings can burst out and cause burns.

What changes with the new Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509?

The new regulation entered into force on 1 January 2026 and, according to the European Commission (23 December 2025), applies from 1 August 2030. Until then, the 2009 Directive remains the reference for the toys you sell today.

The main changes: every toy will need a digital product passport, accessible via a QR code or other data carrier; bans are extended to substances that disrupt hormones, harm the lungs, cause skin allergies or damage specific organs, as well as to PFAS and bisphenols. For squishy suppliers, the chemical rules are the part to watch.

What must a retailer check before selling squishies?

Article 7 of Directive 2009/48/EC requires distributors to act "with due care". Before selling, check the following on the product or its packaging:

1. CE marking, visible and legible. 2. Manufacturer name and contact address. 3. Importer name and address if the toy was made outside the EU. 4. Type, batch or model number so the product can be identified. 5. Age information and warnings, for example "Not suitable for children under 36 months" with a short reason such as small parts. 6. Instructions and safety information in a language consumers in your country easily understand.

If something is missing, ask the supplier before you put the item on sale. For online shops, the purchase-relevant warnings such as minimum age must also be visible before the purchase, according to Article 11 of the Directive.

Which warning signs should make a retailer hold back?

Experience from the 2026 cases points to a few red flags: no manufacturer or importer address at all; a very strong solvent-like smell when the box is opened; parts such as eyes or decorations that come off easily; fillings of sand or water beads; packaging without any age warning; and text only in a language your customers cannot read.

A quick search in the EU Safety Gate portal with terms like "squishy" or "dumpling" shows which product types have been reported. It does not prove that an item is safe, but it helps you spot patterns.

What should you do if a squishy seems unsafe?

If you have reason to believe a toy does not comply, the Directive says you must not sell it until it has been brought into conformity, and where it presents a risk you must inform the manufacturer or importer and the market surveillance authority. The NVWA listed the same steps in its 2026 letter: check, stop selling if safety cannot be shown, and take measures such as withdrawal or recall.

Keep your purchase invoices so you can always name your supplier, and note the batch numbers of what you sold. Your national authority or a legal adviser can tell you which reporting channels apply in your country.

How can a wholesaler like MDH help?

MDH Distribution is a wholesaler in Germany and therefore a distributor in the supply chain, not the manufacturer. We cannot replace your own checks, but we support them with documents: CE declarations of conformity and test reports for our squishies are available on request, and before ordering you can ask about details such as the manufacturer or importer address on the packaging. Our guide to wholesale squishies in Europe lists the questions to ask any supplier.

Our range is meant for the EU market, but you should still check the language rules for warnings in your country. To see the range and prices, open a trade account at /b2b/register; the squishy wholesale page gives an overview, and our sales guide covers safe placement in the shop.

Sources

• Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys (EUR-Lex, 18 June 2009)
• Stronger toy safety rules enter into force (European Commission, 23 December 2025)
• Undersøgelse og risikovurdering af parfume og andre organiske stoffer i squishy legetøj, report no. 164 (Danish EPA, August 2018)
• SCHEER final opinion on organic chemicals emitted from squishy toys (European Commission, 8 June 2021)
• NVWA onderzoekt squishy speelgoed (NVWA, 2026)
• Answers to parliamentary questions on squishies, Aanhangsel 2841 (Tweede Kamer, 31 August 2026)
• Squishy dumplings veilig voor kinderen ondanks chemische geur (Hart van Nederland, 24 September 2026)
• Warnung vor Kinderspielzeug: Gefährliche Squishy-Dumplings im Umlauf (Stiftung Warentest, 26 September 2026)