What are the Laws on Selling a Laser and Some Misc Questions

steve001 said:

The point is we aren't talking about "laser pointers" we are discussing handheld battery operated lasers described briefly here.
It is doable.

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Yes, it is doable - but not if you're selling them as devices for amusement - which is what we use them for. You'd still need to meet all the safety requirements that I have listed here before. Fill out the documentation and all of that - and do it again for every different model you wish to sell. The variance only applies to products which are the same - so as soon as you design another "portable laser" you'd need to variance that too. The decision to grant the variance is still at the discretion of the FDA after all of that.

So yes, it's doable, but you've got increased manufacturing costs/complexity, extra time spent ensuring the product is up to spec, doing all the paperwork and then you've still got to hope the FDA actually grants the variance.

Yes, battery-operated, portable laser systems can be sold in the U.S., providing that they fully comply with the standard, are certified and reported, and are not Class IIIb lasers sold or promoted for pointing or amusement purposes.

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As for shining class IIIB or above lasers into the sky - you're supposed to seek approval from the FAA first for that. It seems you don't need to inform them, but you should. That way they can put out a notice to all pilots to avoid the area or be aware of laser activity in the area.

Laser Pointer Safety - Rules and regulations in the U.S. (For those using lasers outdoors)

Same thing in the UK - the organizer of the UKLEMs had to file for CAA approval before the meetings.

diachi said:

Yes, it is doable - but not if you're selling them as devices for amusement - which is what we use them for. You'd still need to meet all the safety requirements that I have listed here before. Fill out the documentation and all of that - and do it again for every different model you wish to sell. The variance only applies to products which are the same - so as soon as you design another "portable laser" you'd need to variance that too. The decision to grant the variance is still at the discretion of the FDA after all of that.

So yes, it's doable, but you've got increased manufacturing costs/complexity, extra time spent ensuring the product is up to spec, doing all the paperwork and then you've still got to hope the FDA actually grants the variance.

As for shining class IIIB or above lasers into the sky - you're supposed to seek approval from the FAA first for that. It seems you don't need to inform them, but you should. That way they can put out a notice to all pilots to avoid the area or be aware of laser activity in the area.

Laser Pointer Safety - Rules and regulations in the U.S. (For those using lasers outdoors)

Same thing in the UK - the organizer of the UKLEMs had to file for CAA approval before the meetings.

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Yes exactly Diachi and as you say "The decision to grant the variance is still at the discretion of the FDA after all of that."

Yes, battery-operated, portable laser systems can be sold in the U.S., providing that they fully comply with the standard, are certified and reported, and are not Class IIIb lasers sold or promoted for pointing or amusement purposes.

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The above means the laser is 5mW or less and complies with all other laser Laws, rules, and regualtions -- requirements of the FDA.

ClassIIIb or IV portable battery operated lasers are another story -- For a high powered >5mW laser in the United States a variance has to be given by FDA to the manufacturer and a variance is required to use meaning for use by medical, industrial, research, or entertainment professionals with appropriate training and licenses meaning for a legitamate purpose that can not be met by any already available in commerce laser and Laser Safety Officer training etc--at least that is my understanding.

My father used to take his boy scout pocket knife to school and carve stuff at lunchtime with other students.

I have owned firearms made before 1968 that don't even have a serial number.

I hate this business of NOT holding the individual responsible and treating everyone like criminals, it's getting real dam old.

This is why we must always teach laser safety, I suppose it's good that people have to learn a little about building rather than just buy a multi watt laser.

What happened to common sense?

RedCowboy said:

What happened to common sense?

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You are right. Seemingly not much of that is employed these days.

THe world has become a very different and crazy place.

Encap said:

Yes exactly Diachi and as you say "The decision to grant the variance is still at the discretion of the FDA after all of that."

The above means the laser is 5mW or less and complies with all other laser Laws, rules, and regualtions -- requirements of the FDA.

ClassIIIb or IV portable battery operated lasers are another story -- For a high powered >5mW laser in the United States a variance has to be given by FDA to the manufacturer and a variance is required to use meaning for use by medical, industrial, research, or entertainment professionals with appropriate training and licenses meaning for a legitamate purpose that can not be met by any already available in commerce laser and Laser Safety Officer training etc--at least that is my understanding.

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I still wonder how one known company does it?

steve001 said:

I still wonder how one known company does it?

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Which one?

diachi said:

Which one?

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I won't say. A long while back I started a thread on how this forum is known and not just to persons like you and me, but to persons that find this forum informative from a legal perspective. If you find it pm me that you did.

steve001 said:

I won't say. A long while back I started a thread on how this forum is known and not just to persons like you and me, but to persons that find this forum informative from a legal perspective. If you find it on me that you did.

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Any chance you can at least link the thread? You've started over 100 - I'm not searching them all. I can only think of one but I didn't see them mentioned in the thread I thought you might be referring to. I'm assuming you're referring to a US based company seeing as anything else would be outside of FDA jurisdiction.

diachi said:

Any chance you can at least link the thread? You've started over 100 - I'm not searching them all. I can only think of one but I didn't see them mentioned in the thread I thought you might be referring to. I'm assuming you're referring to a US based company seeing as anything else would be outside of FDA jurisdiction.

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You assume correctly and I didn't link to them. I'll link to the thread later, but I believe I titled that specific thread as You never know whose's watching. That thread had nothing to do with them. I think the owner may be a member now or was.

steve001 said:

You assume correctly and I didn't link to them. I'll link to the thread later, but I believe I titled that specific thread as You never know whose's watching. That thread had nothing to do with them. I think the owner may be a member now or was.

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Can always PM me if you don't want to it be public. :wave:

diachi said:

Can always PM me if you don't want to it be public. :wave:

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Unfortunately I won't be able to post a link to that thread because s I now remember and after looking through my old threads I posted that in someone else's thread. The article which was on the site Optics.org specifically talked about WickedLasers and LPF.

I PM'd you.