Hi guys,
I'm not an astronomer, but thought I'd drop by from my usual haunts and let you guys know if it hasn't been picked up on already.
On Dec. 14, 2011, the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 were amended. A whole host of things were affected, but the bit that's relevant to you is that now, Police permission in the form of a B709 Police Authorisation is no longer sufficient to allow legal importation of laser pointers of power >1mW.
This facility has since been removed in favour of the following tests, one of which must be fulfilled to allow legal importation:
(a) the official purposes test;
(b) the specified purposes test;
(c) the specified person test;
(d) the dealer test;
(e) the returned goods test;
(f) the public interest test;
(g) the national interest test
I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that to my knowledge, none of these tests will be applicable to an amateur astronomer, with one possible exception.
*EDIT* As it turns out, there is a special permission available specifically for laser pointers under the "Specified Persons" test. I believe you must apply directly to the Attorney-General's Dept for permission and I'm not sure whether they would accept the application of an amateur astronomer. No such facility exists for the items that interest me, so I haven't gone through the process.
Quote:
(c) for a good mentioned in item 44 of Part 2 of this Schedule — the Minister or authorised person is satisfied of the following:
(i) the importer of the good is a person who has a legitimate use for the good;
(ii) the good will be imported for the use mentioned in subparagraph (i);
(iii) if the good is imported for sale by the importer and the importer is required to hold a licence or authorisation to possess and sell the good in the State or Territory in which the importer lives — the importer holds a licence or authorisation of that kind;
(iv) if the good is imported for use by the importer:
(A) the quantity imported is for personal use; and
(B) if the importer is required to hold a licence or authorisation to use the good in the State or Territory in which the importer lives — the importer holds a licence or authorisation of that kind;
(v) the good will be secured appropriately in Australia.
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I just didn't want anyone to go through the rigmarole of getting Police permission and ordering, only to find that Customs seizes it and flips you the bird.
To my knowledge, laser modules (optic/driver/diode combinations) are not affected by this legislation and are free to import, but I give no guarantee.
For those who are interested, the legislation may be found in full
here. Just search "laser" and you should find the relevant section easily enough. (Schedule 13, Part 2, Item 44)
Thanks for your time
14 Dec 2011 - New laser pointer import restrictions.
