A Complete Guide to European Market Access for Strollers in 2025

A Complete Guide to European Market Access for Strollers in 2025

For companies deeply involved in the export of children's products, the European market, with its sophisticated consumer values ​​and stringent safety systems, presents both a high-value market and a high-entry competition. As a core product directly related to infant and toddler safety, strollers face multiple market access requirements, encompassing standard certification, chemical control, and labeling regulations. Especially with the full implementation of the new standards in 2025, accurately grasping compliance details has become crucial to winning the trust of European professional buyers. This article systematically breaks down the core requirements of the European market, helping companies build compliance barriers and boost inquiry conversion.

I. Cornerstones of Market Access: Compulsory Certification and the Core Regulatory Framework

European regulation of strollers consists of a two-tiered system: "Directives + Harmonized Standards." CE certification is the sole guarantee for the legal circulation of products, supported by the coordinated constraints of multiple sets of regulations and standards.

1. CE Certification: An Insurmountable Barrier to Entry
CE certification is not a single test, but rather a conformity assessment process based on multiple EU directives. Strollers must simultaneously meet the requirements of three core directives:
General Product Safety Directive (GPSD 2001/95/EC): Serves as a foundational framework, requiring products to present no unreasonable safety risks, encompassing comprehensive hazard control measures, including mechanical, chemical, and physical hazards.
Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC): Focuses on the mechanical safety of strollers, including the design and performance requirements for key components such as folding mechanisms, braking systems, and connectors.
Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC): Targets stroller components with toy attributes (such as detachable toy pendants), strengthening requirements for small parts choking prevention and material safety.
Notably, CE certification requires a conformity assessment conducted by an EU-recognized Notified Body (NB). A complete technical documentation archive, including design drawings, bill of materials (BOMs), risk assessment reports, and test data, must be established and maintained for at least 10 years after the product is withdrawn from the market.

2. Related Regulations: Dual Control of Chemicals and Environmental Protection
Europe's chemical safety regulations for children's products have entered the "microgram level" era, with multiple regulations forming a tight network:
REACH: Controls over 150 substances of very high concern (SVHCs), including six phthalates (DBP, DEHP, etc.), requiring their combined concentration in accessible parts to be ≤ 0.1% (1000 ppm). The EN 17826:2025 standard, released in April 2025, further tightens the limit for total phthalates to 0.1 mg/kg, achieving near-zero tolerance control.
RoHS 2.0: Limits the content of six hazardous substances, including lead, cadmium, and mercury, in electronic components of strollers (such as electric awnings and smart monitoring modules). Material flame retardancy requirements: The burning rate of materials such as fabrics and plastics must be ≤30 mm/min. The use of restricted flame retardants such as TCEP and TCPP is prohibited, and their total amount must be ≤5 mg/kg.

II. Core Technical Standards: A Complete Analysis of the EN 1888 Series (2025 Latest Version)

The EN 1888 series is the core technical basis for strollers entering the European market. EN 1888-3:2024, released in July 2024, marks a comprehensive upgrade of the standard system. It will be mandatory throughout the EU after the transition period ends on January 30, 2025.

1. Standard System Structure and Scope of Application
The EN 1888 series adopts a modular "basic + specialized" design. Different types of strollers must meet corresponding requirements in combination:
Standard Number Core Scope of Application Key Supporting Requirements
EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022 General Requirements for All Strollers: Basic Framework for All Strollers
EN 1888-2:2018+A1:2022 Overweight Strollers with a Load Capacity of 15-22kg. Must be used in conjunction with EN 1888-1
EN 1888-3:2024 Sports Strollers for Running/Jogging. Must be used in conjunction with EN 1888-1/2 and are prohibited for high-risk activities such as skating.
This system explicitly excludes toy strollers, electrically driven strollers, and strollers for children with special needs. Companies must first clarify their product classification before commencing compliance preparations.

2. 2025 Key Updates: Stringent Requirements for Sports Strollers
The implementation of EN 1888-3:2024 fills a gap in safety standards for sports strollers, with new requirements targeting high-risk areas:
Terrain adaptability upgrades: Stability testing now covers 15-degree slopes and irregular road surfaces, and the tilt angle limit for sudden stops in dynamic testing has been further tightened.
Structural Strength Enhancements: Wheels must pass 5,000 cycles of bump testing, with new strength testing items added. The number of cycles and speed for irregular surface testing have been increased by 30% to simulate prolonged, intensive use.
Braking and Safety Devices: Dual braking systems are required, and a single braking test must achieve a complete stop within 5 seconds. A caretaker tether must be installed to prevent the risk of uncontrolled sliding.
Mandatory Visibility Requirements: Highly reflective material must be applied all around the vehicle body, with a reflector area of ​​at least 20 cm², to ensure visibility during nighttime sports activities.

3. Common Core Test Items (EN 1888-1/2 Common Requirements)
All strollers must pass the following 16 key tests. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in certification failure:
Structural Safety Test: Avoid dangerous gaps of 25-45mm to prevent finger entrapment; removable components must pass 100,000 dynamic connection tests.
Stability Test: Covers four operating conditions: horizontal surface, 15-degree slope, dynamic emergency stop, and maximum load. The folding mechanism must not show any signs of tipping when locked.
Retention System Test: The five-point safety harness must withstand a tensile force of 400N for 10 seconds without breaking, and the buckle opening force must be controlled between 50-80N, ensuring both safety and ease of use.
Material Chemical Testing: The lead content of accessible parts must be ≤90mg/kg, and 19 migratable elements (including newly added cobalt, manganese, and lithium) must comply with the limits set in EN 17826:2025. Folding Mechanism Testing: After 500 consecutive folds, the locking mechanism must remain precisely positioned and must not show any functional degradation.

III. Practical Compliance Guide: From Certification Process to Labeling Specifications

1. CE Certification Process Breakdown (Cycle and Key Milestones)
The certification process typically takes 4-11 weeks, so companies need to plan ahead to avoid market delays:

Preparation Phase (1-2 weeks): Complete a risk assessment report (covering mechanical, chemical, and asphyxiation risks), prepare 3-5 representative prototypes, and define a list of test items.

Testing Phase (2-6 weeks): The laboratory completes three modules: structural testing (hazardous gap detection, connector fatigue testing), dynamic testing (150mm step drop, 5Hz vibration simulation), and chemical testing (XRF heavy metal scanning, GC-MS plasticizer testing).

Review Phase (1-3 weeks): The notified body verifies the consistency of the technical documentation and test reports. Some agencies may conduct spot checks on factory production processes for compliance. Marking: The CE mark must be between 5-10mm in size and permanently affixed to the product and packaging. The notified body code must also be included.

2. Labeling and Instructions: The Most Overlooked Compliance Details
According to the EU CASP 2024 report, 100% of children's travel products have been penalized for labeling issues. Stroller manufacturers should focus on the following:
Mandatory labeling content: Product model, batch/serial number, maximum load capacity, intended age range (sports strollers must specify ≥9 months), manufacturer information, CE mark, and notified body code.
Instructions: Must be in the official language of the country of sale and include assembly steps, safety warnings (e.g., "Children must wear helmets"), maintenance instructions, and a risk assessment summary.
Special Warning Requirements: Sports strollers must include pictograms such as "No ice skating" and "Caregivers must wear reflective clothing." These pictograms must be at least 15mm x 15mm.

IV. Compliance Mistakes and Risk Mitigation Strategies for 2025

1. High-Frequency Non-Compliance Case Warning
Incorrect application of standards: Certifying sports strollers solely to EN 1888-1 without supplemental testing to EN 1888-3. This has accounted for 37% of cases since 2025.
Delayed chemical control: Continuing to use traditional plasticizers such as DINP without switching to compliant alternatives such as ATBC and DINCH results in EN 17826:2025 testing failures.
Missing Labeling Information: Instructions lack batch numbers or are not in the local language. Such issues are detected in up to 64% of EU border inspections.

2. Systematic Compliance Solutions
Design-Phase Intervention: Avoiding hazardous gaps during CAD design, selecting REACH-certified raw materials, and providing reflective material mounting locations on sports strollers.
Supply Chain Control: Requiring raw material suppliers to provide SVHC declarations and conducting rapid XRF screening on each batch of materials to avoid hidden risks. Dynamically Track Standard Updates: Establish a CEN standards alert mechanism, focusing on revisions to the EN 1888 series. Pay particular attention to adjustments to chemical limits in 2025.
Partnership with Third-Party Testing: Select laboratories with both mechanical testing and chemical analysis qualifications to shorten testing cycles and ensure data consistency.

V. European Market Trends and Buyers' Core Concerns

European professional buyers have evolved from focusing solely on compliance to a comprehensive assessment of "compliance + quality + sustainability" when selecting suppliers:

Visualizing Safety Performance: More and more buyers require third-party testing videos and detailed data reports, rather than just certification certificates.

Environmentally Friendly Material Preferences: Environmental indicators such as the percentage of recycled plastics and the use of water-based paints have become core inquiries, with some Nordic buyers even requesting carbon footprint reports.

Functional Adaptability Requirements: Lightweight foldable models for urban commuting and all-terrain models for outdoor use must meet different segmented standards. Products with specialized positioning are more likely to secure orders.

Conclusion: Build Trust with Compliance, Win Orders with Professionalism

By 2025, the compliance threshold for the European stroller market has been raised across the board. The dual implementation of EN 1888-3:2024 and EN 17826:2025 presents both a challenge and an opportunity for market differentiation. For professional buyers, compliance capabilities directly equate to supply chain reliability.