CE testing for toys

EU law states that all toys sold in the EU need to have a CE mark.  This includes those handmade from samll sole trader or those from major retailers.  No toy is exempt.
CE testing and marking can be done by anyone.  Small makers can self certify.  It isn't easy to know where to start though with such a daunting challenge.  Where do you go? how do you test? what do you test? Where do you get certificates?
 It is not a task for the faint hearted or for those that give up as soon as someone says "no", but it can be done..... Not in the way that many people suggested which was to attach labels stating not for under 14's or under 3's ( not a legal cover) or say this is for display only (as they too have to be tested if they look like a toy, they are a toy)
Knit a hat for a child and sell it, no problem, but put the same hat on a toy and it then needs to go through a large range of tests.My trading standards department couldn't see a feasible way to get tested as socks are clothing and thus not subjected to the same rules.... so I stopped trying, withdrew my sock monkeys from sale and started to research.I've found a very helpful company called Conformance who produce a pack to guide you through the maze and a group of other makers who have been or are going through the process. 
It has not been a cheap process and takes a lot of time and paperwork.  You should see the piles I have.Every single component has to come up to certain standards and be traceable, felt, fabric, stuffing, thread, ribbon, buttons etc.  It means that you cannot use vintage or second hand fabrics because you can not trace the manufacturer.  Each componant needs a conformance certificate from a testing house stating the chemical levels and their conformance to the standard.  Oeotex is largely available, but is not sufficent for toys as it only covers testing for skin contact, not in contact with saliva which is the level required.  All the manufacturing has to be done to a standard practice and photos taken of each stage so that all the toys will conform to the same standard.
So my monkeys had weights attached, seems poked, eyes twisted painfully, have been washed, tumbled dry and retortured and photographed like a top model and the then they are burnt and the flame progression measured and composed into a sum to work out a number (not a strong point of mine) then all the tests are recorded on paperwork, signed dated, given serial numbers and the paperwork filed.  Labels are part of it and have to contain certain phrases etc.
And of course the process is not over then.  You have a responsibility to keep upto date with changes in the law.  recently the EU released higher standards for chemicals and so every component is having to be retested.  It is also highly advisable to retest every six months or so just to make sure that it's all still compliant.  Every single model you make has to be individually numbered or recorded with details of all the componants etc so that they are fully traceable.  it is of course highly recommended that you have product and third party insurance to further protect yourself.
Individual Trading Standards will have different requirements and guide lines.  Mine has stated that I am in a high risk manufacturing business and therefore I will get two visits a year to moniter my standards.
You can see my CE compliant toys here.