The European Commission (EC) has enacted a new Decision establishing safety requirements to be met by European standards for consumer laser products, pursuant to the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD).
The Decision applies to "consumer laser products," defined to mean any product or assembly of components that:
- is intended for consumers, or likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions even if not intended for them; and
- constitutes or incorporates a laser or laser system and during operation permits access to laser radiation.
Further, the Decision applies to "child-appealing consumer laser products," defined to mean a consumer laser product that:
- resembles, by virtue of its form or design, anything that is commonly recognized as being appealing to, or intended for use by, children; or
- has any other feature or characteristic, not necessary for the function of the product, that is likely to be appealing to children.
Per the Decision, child appealing consumer laser products must not cause damage to the eyes or the skin in case of any exposure to laser radiation that could occur under any conditions of use, including deliberate long-term exposure with optical viewing instruments.
All other consumer laser products shall not cause damage to the eyes or unintended damage to the skin in case of any exposure to laser radiation that could occur under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, including momentary accidental or unintentional exposure; any intended damage to the skin caused by consumer laser products shall be compatible with a high level of consumer health and safety protection.
Conformity must be demonstrated by "technical means," citing the current European standard for laser products, EN 60825-1:2007, Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements, which classifies laser products based upon hazard class.
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