Has there been a law change in the EU?

[Devil_Master]

I've noticed that OdicForce doesn't offer 1W handhelds anymore (the highest power available right now is a 1W labby), while Blord hasn't posted anything for over a month, not even to let laserdonkey know if he's alive. This could be a coincidence, but it could also mean that laser laws in the EU have changed, and in response, European sellers chose not to sell high power lasers anymore. Anyone got a clue about which it is?

 

[Pman]

I'm a bit confused as I talked to Blord in a PM on 12/11 but yes I see where it says he hasn't posted in a thread since that date.

 

[Master Philip]

Well, if there is a law change, I hope it's not retroactive because myself and at least one other person have JetLaser orders coming in (probably after the first). I'd be pretty pissed if mine didn't make it... :gun:

 

[GR3EN]

I'm awaiting a laser from blord right now. Just got through customs today. Been in contact with him multiple times through pm over the past 3 weeks

 

[grainde]

I havent heard of anything either. :beer:

 

[Alaskan]

Well, if the law starts shutting down import of high power lasers to the extent we stop bringing them in, next comes a wave of individuals who will be making pointers out of the guts of lab lasers. I think we can still have our high power greenies, but the cost will go up and the product not as nice for many builds.

 

[Pi R Squared]

He was asking about laws in the EU, not the US. There has already been an import ban in the US by the FDA on most battery powered lasers of 5mW or greater for quite sometime. There was even a list of companies whose lasers you can't import here. Somebody posted a thread about this many months ago and linked to info on a government or FDA site. It was back when they reclassified >5mW battery powered lasers as surveying, leveling, or alignment lasers and not laser pointers.

Alan

 

[olympus mons]

I've noticed that OdicForce doesn't offer 1W handhelds anymore (the highest power available right now is a 1W labby), while Blord hasn't posted anything for over a month, not even to let laserdonkey know if he's alive. This could be a coincidence, but it could also mean that laser laws in the EU have changed, and in response, European sellers chose not to sell high power lasers anymore. Anyone got a clue about which it is?

Glad it wasn't just me. I sent Blord a pm a few weeks ago and posted some questions in his sales thread about some lasers I was interested in purchasing but hadn't seen any responses for many days so stopped checking. I ended up ordering from another seller. It seemed strange considering his good reputation about promptness and willing to answer questions but I imagine he may be busy doing other things ATM.

 

[Alaskan]

My angle on the law was whether the FDA was getting tougher on imports, making higher fines or going after manufacturers who import into the USA more. However, I thought with certain FDA required safety features, you could legally manufacture and import high power laser "pointers", is that incorrect?

Food and Drug Administration regulating lasers seems a bit of an over reach to me.

 

[Master Philip]

My angle on the law was whether the FDA was getting tougher on imports, making higher fines or going after manufacturers who import into the USA more. However, I thought with certain FDA required safety features, you could legally manufacture and import high power laser "pointers", is that incorrect?

Food and Drug Administration regulating lasers seems a bit of an over reach to me.

See. I was under the impression (with nothing to back my claim) that you can import >5mw lasers into the U.S. as long as they aren't classified as "pointers".

 

[NightExplorer96]

See. I was under the impression (with nothing to back my claim) that you can import >5mw lasers into the U.S. as long as they aren't classified as "pointers".

IIRC no laser above 5mW is allowed into the US unless it's in a labby form or you have a special waiver to allow you to import handheld Class IIIb/IV devices. Simply writing "handheld" on a 100mW laser pointer won't work if customs decides to investigate thoroughly

-Alex