In June, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register of proposed changes to U.S. laser product regulations. The public is invited to comment; the deadline for comment submission is September 23 2013. FDA must evaluate and respond to comments (even if they choose to ignore them), so if you have comments this is your opportunity.
Most of the changes involve making U.S. laws closer to the international IEC 60825 standard. This makes it easier for manufacturers to meet both standards with one set of labels, controls, etc.
One major change that FDA proposes is a new class of specific purpose lasers, "children's toy laser products." This would join the current medical, demonstration and "surveying, leveling and alignment" (SLA) specific purpose lasers as the only laser uses that FDA can regulate.
(As you may know, laser pointers are classed as SLA and/or demonstration products which is how FDA asserts its authority over pointers.)
FDA says the new "children's toy" category could include lasers intended for creating entertaining optical effects. It is defined as "a product that is manufactured, designed, intended or promoted for use by children under 14 years of age."
The children's toy products would be limited to Class 1 (less than 1 mW), even for the internal laser. This is because if the product is disassembled or broken, FDA does not want laser power above Class 1 to be emitted.
Note that a children's CD or DVD player would have a laser above Class 1 and in theory could be banned under the new FDA proposal. (Although in the introduction FDA says they would only regulate toys emitting laser beams, in the actual proposed regulatory language this is NOT stated -- only that the product contain a laser and be manufactured, designed, intended or promoted for use by children under 14.)
Links to the Federal Register proposal, and to the addresses for sending comments by the Sept. 23 2013 deadline, are in a news story at http://www.laserpointersafety.com/news/news/other-news_files/9af3c2d1f520977b70a880073ccd4579-331.php
Most of the changes involve making U.S. laws closer to the international IEC 60825 standard. This makes it easier for manufacturers to meet both standards with one set of labels, controls, etc.
One major change that FDA proposes is a new class of specific purpose lasers, "children's toy laser products." This would join the current medical, demonstration and "surveying, leveling and alignment" (SLA) specific purpose lasers as the only laser uses that FDA can regulate.
(As you may know, laser pointers are classed as SLA and/or demonstration products which is how FDA asserts its authority over pointers.)
FDA says the new "children's toy" category could include lasers intended for creating entertaining optical effects. It is defined as "a product that is manufactured, designed, intended or promoted for use by children under 14 years of age."
The children's toy products would be limited to Class 1 (less than 1 mW), even for the internal laser. This is because if the product is disassembled or broken, FDA does not want laser power above Class 1 to be emitted.
Note that a children's CD or DVD player would have a laser above Class 1 and in theory could be banned under the new FDA proposal. (Although in the introduction FDA says they would only regulate toys emitting laser beams, in the actual proposed regulatory language this is NOT stated -- only that the product contain a laser and be manufactured, designed, intended or promoted for use by children under 14.)
Links to the Federal Register proposal, and to the addresses for sending comments by the Sept. 23 2013 deadline, are in a news story at http://www.laserpointersafety.com/news/news/other-news_files/9af3c2d1f520977b70a880073ccd4579-331.php
"Laser Grenades" wonderful idea.....
