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Can laser pointers be sold on Trade Me?
High-powered lasers can't be sold on Trade Me. Find out why, and what kind of lasers you can sell.
By Trust and Safety 8 September 2023
Don't get lazy with your lasers
Can laser pointers be sold on Trade Me? It depends.
There are some laws around owning and selling high-powered laser pointers – with more than 1 milliwatt (mW) of power.
This is because high-power laser pointers have been misused by members of the public, such as pointing them at aircrafts.
Distracting or dazzling a pilot in this way creates a serious aviation safety risk, particularly during critical phases of flight such as take-off or landing.
The rules
The Health (High-power Laser Pointers) Regulations 2013 restrict the supply of high-power laser pointers to those who are authorised suppliers and recipients.
The Custom Import Prohibition (High-power Laser Pointers) Order 2019 restricts the importation of high-power laser pointers to those people who have received consent from the Director General for Health to import them.
What does this mean for Trade Me sellers?
Laser pointers with an output power of greater than 1mW can't be sold on Trade Me.
We work with the Ministry of Health to ensure illegal pointers aren't listed on our site.
What lasers can be sold?
Lasers with an output less than 1mW can be sold legally in Aotearoa New Zealand, so can be sold on Trade Me.
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