Japan’s New Child PSC Mark: 2025 Compliance Guide for Toy and Baby Brands
Japan is raising the bar for toy safety. Starting December 25, 2025, all toys for children under three must carry the new Child PSC Mark. Without it, products cannot legally be sold in Japan.
We will explain what the Child PSC Mark is, how it differs from existing standards, who it applies to, and how brands can ensure full compliance before the enforcement date.
What Is the Child PSC Mark?
The Child PSC Mark (Product Safety of Consumer Products) is a mandatory certification mark for toys designed for children under the age of three (or 36 months).
It confirms that a product has passed rigorous testing for mechanical, physical, and flammability safety under Japan’s technical standards.
This mark replaces the previous self-declaration model, meaning compliance must now be verified by a METI-authorized conformity assessment body. Only certified products can display the Child PSC Mark and be sold legally in Japan.
In short: the Child PSC Mark ensures that every toy sold for infants and toddlers meets Japan’s highest safety requirements, protecting both consumers and brand reputation.
How It Differs from the ST Mark and Designated Toy System
Japan’s toy safety framework includes several overlapping systems, each addressing a specific aspect of safety. Understanding how they connect is essential for full compliance.
- Child PSC Mark – Regulated under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and managed by METI, this mandatory certification confirms that toys for children under three meet Japan’s national standards for product design, labeling, and physical safety.
- Focus: Mechanical and physical testing, flammability, and labeling standards.
- Display requirement: Toys must clearly show a warning label and the Child PSC Mark, along with the manufacturer or importer’s name. These must appear visibly and permanently on the product or packaging. If space is limited, they can be printed clearly in the instruction manual.
- ST Mark – A voluntary certification managed by the Japan Toy Association (JTA). Based on the Japan Toy Safety Standard (ST Standard), it covers mechanical, flammability, and chemical properties. The ST Mark is not required by law but is widely recognized by consumers and retailers as a mark of trust and quality.
- Designated Toy – Defined under the Food Sanitation Act and regulated by MHLW, this classification ensures chemical and material safety, verifying that paints, coatings, and adhesives used in toys are non-toxic and suitable for young children.
In many cases, infant toys such as plush rattles or teething items will require both Child PSC certification and Food Sanitation Act (Designated Toy) testing to achieve full compliance before sale in Japan.
Who Needs to Comply and by When
The new Child PSC Mark requirements apply to all toys intended for children under 36 months (or three years), whether sold in Japan or imported by overseas brands.
This includes:
- Manufacturers and importers based in Japan
- International brands selling direct-to-consumer through eCommerce
- Retailers distributing imported toys for infants
Key enforcement dates:
- Pre-registration for conformity assessment: begins September 25, 2025
- Full enforcement: effective December 25, 2025
From that date forward, any toy for children under three without the Child PSC Mark cannot be sold in Japan.
If your brand has not yet registered or started the certification process, now is the time to take action. Early coordination ensures smooth testing, approval, and market entry under the new system.
How to Prepare for Certification
If your brand is new to Japan’s toy regulations, it’s important to understand how the Child PSC Mark fits within the broader safety framework. We’ve already outlined the complete step-by-step process for classification, testing, and import requirements in our earlier post, Understanding the Japanese Market: Baby Products & Toys.
The post explains how to determine whether your product qualifies as a Designated or Specified Toy, what testing and documentation are required, and how to process before import.
The chart below shows how the certification process continues once a toy is classified as Specified, from registration and self-inspection to age labeling, warning display, and final application of the Child PSC Mark before sale.
At the end of this process, businesses must confirm final compliance, verifying that the Child PSC Mark and required safety labels are properly displayed before distribution or sale.
What Happens If You’re Not Ready
Failure to meet the new certification requirements can lead to:
- Import or customs delays
- Prohibition of sale for non-compliant products
- Retailer refusals to stock unmarked items
- Loss of consumer trust due to safety concerns
From December 25, 2025, all toys for children under three manufactured or imported after this date must display the Child PSC Mark.
Toys already on the market or manufactured before enforcement may continue to be sold, provided they meet the safety requirements in place at the time of production. However, new imports and future manufacturing runs will need to follow the updated CPSA rules and certification process.
How COVUE Helps
COVUE ensures your compliance process is complete, efficient, and fully local.
We act as your:
- ACP (Attorney for Customs Procedures) / IOR (Importer of Record)
- Domestic Administrator for overseas brands for cross boarder shippers
Our team manages:
- Product reviews to ensure compliance
- Technical documentation and Japanese translations
- METI registration and required steps for import
- and more
The 2025 CPSA reform sets a higher benchmark for transparency, product quality, and consumer safety.
Brands that prepare now will gain a strong compliance foundation and long-term credibility in Japan’s toy market.
With COVUE, your compliance is handled end-to-end, so your brand can focus on growth, not difficult paperwork.
Partner with us now to navigate certification, testing, and import with confidence and bring your products to Japan safely and successfully.