China Toy and Educational Materials Export Agency, Full-Process Solutions for Cross-Border Challenges

I.Market Background and Core Challenges of China’s Toy and Educational Materials Export to Europe in 2026

Demand in the European toy and educational materials market continues to grow in 2026,with eco-friendly and STEM products accounting for over 60% of the market share.As a major supplier,China’s export volume increased by 12% year-on-year.However,many manufacturers report three prominent problems in the export process:

• Updated EU CE certification: 10 new heavy metal limit tests are added to the EN71-3 standard,and some manufacturers face customs clearance delays due to failure to update reports in time;
• Document consistency requirements: European customs carry out strict audits on the matching degree of product model,material and certification number,with a document error and omission rate of 15%;
• Complicated tax refund process: Some small manufacturers have a tax refund cycle 20 days longer than the industry average due to delayed foreign exchange verification.

II.Core Value of Zhongshen’s Toy and Educational Materials Export Agency Services

According to Supervisor Ni from Zhongshen,in response to the particularities of the European market,the core of their agency services is "policy advance arrangement + closed-loop process": they help customers connect with European-recognized testing institutions 3 months in advance,and update certification materials simultaneously; the document team assigns special personnel to check each parameter to ensure consistency with the customs system; tax refund specialists coordinate with banks and tax authorities to shorten the review cycle.

III.Service Module Breakdown: Targeted Response to European Policies

1.Document Module: Matching European Customs Document Requirements

European customs have more detailed document requirements for toys and educational materials than other regions,which need to include: product CE certification number,EN71 test report (with CNAS accreditation),material composition list,and packaging compliance statement.The document team of Zhongshen has three core actions:

• Advance review: Complete preliminary review within 24 hours after customers submit materials,and mark non-conforming items (such as expired certification reports);
• Certification synchronization: Establish a green channel with institutions such as TÜV Rheinland,and complete certification updates within 3 days;
• Document pre-entry: Complete pre-entry into the customs system 7 days before customs declaration,reducing on-site review time.

2.Customs Clearance Module: Avoiding Common European Barriers

Common barriers to European customs clearance include: inconsistent certification,product safety spot checks,and incorrect tariff classification.Zhongshen’s response solutions are shown in the table below:

3.Tax Refund Module: Improving Tax Refund Speed for Exports to Europe

Points to note for tax refund for exports to Europe: After foreign exchange is received,customs declaration form,VAT invoice and foreign exchange verification form shall be provided,and the product name on the invoice shall be completely consistent with that on the customs declaration form.Advantages of Zhongshen’s tax refund service:

• Foreign exchange linkage: Open real-time arrival notification with banks,and complete verification on the same day;
• Invoice review: Check product name and quantity in advance to avoid delays caused by inconsistency;
• Tax authority coordination: Exclusive specialists coordinate with tax authorities,shortening the tax refund cycle from 30 days to 18 days.

IV.Zhongshen’s Experience in Improving Customs Clearance Efficiency and Tax Refund Speed

Mr.Zhan from Zhongshen mentioned that they optimize the process through two practices:

First,establish a policy database for European toys and educational materials,and update the certification,tariff and customs clearance requirements of 12 European countries every month; second,build a "document - customs clearance - tax refund" linkage system,with real-time data sharing across all links to avoid repeated submission of materials.Last year,a customer exported STEM building blocks to Germany,and the customs clearance time was shortened from 7 days to 3 days due to the updated EN71 report prepared in advance,and the tax refund was received in 15 days.

V.Customized Services Adapt to Different Toy and Educational Materials Products

Mr.Yin from Zhongshen said that different types of toys and educational materials have different export requirements to Europe,so customized services are provided:

• Plush toys: Focus on reviewing the EN71-2 flammability test report;
• Electronic toys: Additional EMC electromagnetic compatibility certification is required;
• Educational materials: Provide proof of teaching purpose,and enjoy tariff reduction or exemption in some countries.

VI.Reasons for Choosing Zhongshen

Whether you operate plush toys or STEM teaching aids,and whether your target country is Germany or France,Zhongshen has 20 years of in-depth experience in the industry,which can help you accurately respond to policy changes,reduce customs clearance delays and shorten the tax refund cycle,making the export process smoother.