Phthalates and boron in toys: 41 of 250 models over the limits — up to 22.6 % phthalate in a ball, up to 1173 mg/kg boron migration from slime
On 1 June 2026 UOKiK presented the results of its 2025 toy controls: 220 models were tested for phthalates and 30 slime toys for boron migration. 41 models (more than 16 %) exceeded the limits, and one in four had labelling or documentation defects.
- Phthalates were checked by 16 regional inspectorates from January to October 2025 (dolls, squeakers, skipping ropes, balls, bath toys and others; 198 of the 220 models from China). The phthalate concentration exceeded 0.1 % by mass of the plasticised material — the limit in Annex XVII to REACH — in 32 models; DEHP, DBP and DIBP were detected most often.
- The largest exceedances were in three balls: dibutyl phthalate (DBP) 22.4 ± 3.4 % and 21.6 ± 3.3 % and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) 22.6 ± 3.4 %; the inspection sent 24 requests for administrative proceedings to the President of UOKiK.
- Boron migration from 30 slime toys (September–December 2025) was tested by the UOKiK laboratory in Lublin: 9 models exceeded the 300 mg/kg limit, and the highest migration was 1173.39 mg/kg — almost four times the limit.
- Formal shortcomings were found in 53 of the 220 models tested for phthalates (including 27 declarations of conformity, 19 warnings and 10 missing producer details) and in 13 of the 30 slime toys.