Disposition 804/2026: what happened to squishy toys?
On 14 October 2026, Argentina published Disposition 804/2026, prohibiting the sale nationwide of certain soft-polymer children's toys marketed as “squishy/squeezy” under the Pinch Family brand and originating in China, where the certificates and safety requirements specified in the disposition are not met.
This is not a blanket ban on all squishy toys. The measure identifies a specific brand and its various models, formats and presentations under the conditions described in Article 1.
The laboratory finding: DEHP above the permitted limit
According to the disposition, an accredited laboratory of Argentina's Toy Industry Chamber (CAIJ) tested Squeezy Pinch Family samples using HPLC. The testing identified bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) at more than 0.2% by weight, exceeding the 0.1% limit established by Health Ministry Resolution 583/2008, as amended. The samples were found non-compliant.
DEHP is a phthalate plasticizer. Excessive levels raise chemical-safety concerns, particularly for toys that children may handle or put in their mouths. The finding relates to the samples tested and should not be generalized to all soft-polymer toys.
Immediate obligations for businesses handling affected products
- Sales prohibition: the measure applies nationwide to the products described in Article 1, subject to its specific conditions.
- Safe disposal: importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers must immediately destroy and safely dispose of stocks of affected products in accordance with applicable rules.
- Online notices: businesses selling affected products through their websites must prominently post the scope of the measure within 72 business hours of its entry into force on 14 October 2026.
Violations may lead to consumer-protection and fair-trading sanctions, without excluding other possible liabilities.
Regulatory background
The disposition cites Health Ministry Resolution 583/2008 on restricted phthalates in toys and childcare articles, Resolution 2/2011 on compliance evidence, SIC Resolution 313/2025 on toy-safety requirements and Resolution 56/2026 on market surveillance.
A general toy-safety certificate should not be assumed to prove compliance with every substance-specific limit. Certificates and test reports need to match the actual product, material, model and variant.
What importers and manufacturers should review
- Identify product families, variants, materials and batches, and assess whether they are covered by the specific prohibition.
- Review polymer composition, plasticizers, phthalate test reports and product traceability.
- Check the validity and product scope of certificates, as well as labeling, warnings and Spanish-language product information.
- Review inventory and online listings, and implement any applicable withdrawal and disposal requirements for affected goods.
How GROLL Ingeniería can assist
GROLL Ingeniería assesses toy regulatory scope, technical files, certificates and test reports, identifies restricted-substance and toy-safety requirements, and coordinates with accredited laboratories and certification bodies where relevant.
Send product photographs, specifications, declared composition, intended age group and any existing test or certification evidence to request a product-specific assessment.