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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

USA laser importing

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Apr 12, 2009
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(Sorry if this is a noob question, im a noob  ;))

So, I found a pretty good deal at dx... Unfortunately, this appeared:

"United States Customers Only: due to new regulations enforced by the US FDA and PayPal, orders of >5mW lasers units shipped to the United States are no longer accepted. Orders that were previously accepted and unshipped will be cancelled and refunded to customers. This affects United States orders only.

Important FDA Warning for all >5mW Lasers: FDA advices all customers that these lasers may be purchased only if you are NOT a citizen of the United States and you are NOT currently living in the United States."

Can someone elaborate on this? Why did they do this?
 





Joined
Sep 20, 2008
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Snake_X said:
Im kinda looking for the more detailed answers
If you would do a little research here on the forum... you would know
that it is illegal to import Lasers >5mW into the USA... :cool:
And as such DX will no longer ships >5mW lasers to the USA... :'(

The [Search] Button is your friend...

[Edit] there is a member that can get DX items for you...
see the next post below...

Jerry
 

Gymbow

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Apr 9, 2009
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It was my understanding from what I have read that lasers meeting the FDA certification requirements could be shipped to the US with power ratings >5mW. If I understood this correctly, then it implies the lasers sold by DX with >5mW output have not been FDA certified.

Is my understanding correct?
 
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Aug 25, 2007
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^Correct. To be FDA certified and legal to import, the manufacturer must have an accession number from the FDA. To get a product approved and get the accession number, they must prove to the FDA that the product, if it is over 5mW, has the 5 required safety features. OR, they can explain to the FDA and convince them that the product would not function correctly for its purpose if it included the safety features.

If it's just a pointer, you can bet good money that there is no satisfactory explanation for not including the safety features. So basically, either it has the safety features, or it's not approved.

The other simple test to find if it's approved is quite easy: ask the seller/manufacturer for the accession number. If they have one, they'll provide it. If they don't have one, the laser isn't FDA-approved.
 
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i've been interested in making laser with all the safety features......but my biggest set back is finding a driver with a 2 second delay......
 
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Snake_X said:
so why don't they mod it?

Why doesn't who mod what? Who is "who", and what is "it"?

Really don't understand what you're asking. Remember, antecedents are your friends.
 
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Snake_X said:
why doesn't dx mod the laser so that it will have safety features?

Because even if they did, they'd still need an FDA accession number to be able to legally import lasers >5mW. Plus DX isn't a manufacturer - they just resell items.
 
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Snake_X said:
why doesn't dx mod the laser so that it will have safety features?

Because when it's a pen-style pointer, it's hard and expensive to put those things in.  Look at the DX pen pointers or the red burner you linked, where in that thing are you going to fit a key switch, an aperture shutter, and a safety dongle?  The LED emission indicator light and the extra circuitry for the time delay would fit, but both would increase the cost.  

Oh, and DX doesn't care.

There are plenty of lasers out there with the safety features, you can buy those if you want to legally import your green laser.

ETA: I see you want the red burning laser. Why not build one yourself? That is perfectly legal in the US. With o-like modules now, building a green legally is also a very good option.
 




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