Explanatory note – national requirement s for a permit to import into Norway, 
sell, use, etc. powerful lase r pointers  
 
Since 2011, requirements have been imposed subject to t he Norwegian R adiation 
Protection R egulations for the possession and use of powerful laser po inters in a public 
place. The requirement for a permit in public places has proved to be ineffective, since 
it does not affect the distribution of powerful laser pointers from the retailers’ own 
stores. This means that the retailers can se ll the powerful laser pointers to individuals 
without fear of penalties  
 
In recent years, the use of powerful laser pointers to harass pilots , the police, drivers, 
etc. has increased.  In the period from 2009 to 2013 , annualy 70–150 individual cases 
where pilots have been blinded  with laser pointers have been registered . Use of laser 
pointers is  also a danger to the users if they are careless or are not aware of the dangers 
of lasers. There is a risk of permanent damage to the retina of the eyes resulting i n loss 
of vision , especially for children  who look at the light source out of curiosity.  
 
Technological advances have meant that laser pointers have become both more 
powerful and cheaper. Today, increasingly powerful laser pointers are being offered for 
sale on the internet. This trend is expected to continue. Laser pointers are sold by 
Swedish retailers both in shops and online. It is also very common for laser pointers to 
be purchased via the internet directly from China and other countries outside the EU. 
 
The purpose of introducing a requirement for a permit to own, possess, manufacture, 
import, export, use or sell powerful laser pointers in Norway  is to prevent harmful and 
potentially dangerous  use of laser pointers. The regulation s apply  both to businesses 
and private individuals, and the regulation s entail an implicit prohibition in cases where 
a permit is not granted .  
 
In Europe , there is legislation regarding possession, importation, use, sale, etc. and 
restrictions of powerful laser pointers in for example Finland, France and Germany.  
Sweden  has already introduced a general ban on powerful laser pointers.  
 
The regulation s regarding powerful laser pointers now being proposed, is justified by 
pressing reasons in relation to the public interest, in this case the protection of human 
health. The risk to human health caused by the abuse of powerful laser pointers is 
obvious. The re are not any less intrusive measures available to achieve the objective. 
The measures are therefore proportionate and constitute a necessary prerequisite to 
ensure, at national level, the safe use of powerful laser pointers from a radiation 
protection pe rspective. The regulation is applied equally to all and is therefore not 
discriminatory.  
 
The major problem appears to be the increasing availability of laser pointers and in 
order to address th is problem, private individuals' access to  powerful  laser poin ters 
should be restricted, which the current proposal  is expected to achieve.   
Through the requirement for a permit and through indirect prohibition, the police and 
Customs will be provided with enhanc ed legal means to intervene, confiscate  and 
destruct laser pointers.  
 
Permits shall be granted to professional and other legitimate activities under certain 
conditions. Today a permit is only required for the possession and use of lasers in a 
public space . The proposal entails a requirement for a permit to ow n, possess, 
manufacture, import, export, use or sell such laser pointers  in Norway .  
 
Permits will be granted to those who have a  legitimate  need to use a powerful laser 
pointer.  This approach will facilitate both professional and other activities. For example, 
it will still  be possible for powerful laser pointers to be used by pilots to pinpoint 
beacons when piloting a vessel, and for astronomy societies to point out constellation s 
in the views of the night sky.  The permit will be granted for a given period of time.   
 
A new permit will not be necessary for those who already have a valid permit in 
accordance with today’s regulation. And those who possess a powerful laser pointer 
without a valid permit will be given three months time to hand in  the laser pointer  to the 
police without fear of penalties. With this arrangement more  powerful  laser pointers will 
be taken out of circulation and in that way the risk of injuries and accident s will be 
reduced.  
 
Further more , the proposal includes a  change of the definition of laser pointers  so that 
laser pointer is not considered electrical  equipment under the Low Voltage Directive 
2006/95/EF.   
 
The proposal will presumably not have any  significant economic consequences. The 
proposal will simplify the enforcement of the regulation s on laser pointers.  
 
For the owners of powerful laser pointers who currently have a permit to use them in 
their professional or other legitimate activities, the regulation will not have any cost 
implications.  
 
The purpose of the permit requirement is to deal with the misuse of laser pointers  and 
to prevent the potentiall y dangerous use of powerful laser pointers . Businesses and 
individuals with legitimate pruposes will still be able to buy powerful laser pointers from 
such retailers, and the sale of such products to legitimate customers should therefore 
not be substantial ly reduced.