Laser pointer legislation

[Answerprancer]

Does anyone know if legislation regarding the online sale of laser pointers has changed recently ?
It seems as though anything above 5mw is no longer available.
Dealextreme and Amazon always carried stock of lasers with much higher outputs (eg. 20/30/100mw)but I'll be damned if I can find any now.

[Buenchico]

No responsible retailer would consider selling anything other than a 'Class 1' or 'Class 2' device to a member of the general public, as to do so might render them liable to being sued for any eye injuries which might occur. They'll be guided by the statements from the Health & Safety Executive at the bottom of this page:
http://www.hse.gov.uk.../nonionising/faqs.htm

Chris

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that info Chris.

[Buenchico]

Eddie:
I'm frequently amazed at the ads which appear here (when I'm using a computer where I've not blocked them anyway!). For example, every time someone posts about criminal records there are lots of ads claiming that they can find all criminal records for anyone. Either those ads are coming from an oversea (US?) source or they're simply lying. Either way they won't help anyone looking for UK criminal records.

The ad I've just seen (by disabling my browser's ad-blocking add-on) on the right of this page comes from a trader in the Channel Islands, which is outside the control of the HSE.

[Answerprancer]

Though I appreciate the info, this is straying from my actual question.

Responsibility lies in the hands of the user, not the retailer IMO. I have three hand held lasers all of which have higher than 20mw outputs and I have no problem grasping the fact that use of them involves some basic common sense with regard to health and safety.
There are LOTS of items legally available to the general public that are potentially dangerous or even lethal (eg. knives, inflammable substances ...motor cars).

[Buenchico]

An analogy:
Alcohol and tobacco are both far more hazardous to health than many newer recreational drugs, such as Ectstasy. However alcohol and tobacco are so deeply embedded into our lives that the Government wouldn't seek to ban them. (The USA tried, but gave up). It's only when newer hazards come to the attention of 'the authorities' that they are legislated against.

Likewise, if the motor car hadn't yet been invented, and governments were asked to consider the environmental impacts of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, wankel engines and electric vehicles, the internal combustion engine would certainly be banned but no government would currently dare to do so.

Established devices and technologies are generally accepted, whereas 'innovations' tend to come under closer scrutiny.

[Answerprancer]

I thought most (all?) devices and technologies and 'innovations' have had to undergo some scrutiny at the hands of luddites before they became accepted into society.
Anyway, back to my question....