It is not illegal to own a laser pointer. The problem comes from people who sell high-power Laser pointer/products and call them "pointers". So many people think that the reason laser pointers are banned is that if they have a certain power, it is illegal to sell them as laser pointers. To be marked as a laser pointer, the laser must be less than 5 milliwatts (mW). If the laser exceeds 5mW, it can no longer be marked as a pointer, and it is illegal to mark it as a pointer. However, as long as it meets FDA standards, it is not illegal to have a laser pointer over 5mW. In my professional activities as a laser technology expert of the Berne Cantonal Police, I checked countless undeclared or incorrectly declared laser pointers with major potential risks. Pay special attention when the laser pointer is purchased from a foreign online store and imported into Switzerland. From June 1, 2021, legal changes will also take place in this area in Switzerland. In this article, I will answer our most frequently asked questions.
The "Product Safety Law" stipulates that laser pointers must be classified correctly. The standard DIN 60825-1 is decisive here. Therefore, as a user, you can see which laser category the device belongs to in the operating instructions and the markings on the laser pointer. If there are no operating instructions in the local language or the laser device does not have a label, the pointer should not be used.