On March 27, 2022, The European CENELEC issued the radiation Safety standard for laser products EN 50689:2021 Safety of Laser products -- Particular Requirements for Consumer Laser Products. The new standards will be adopted on Sept 27, 2022, and will be mandatory after Sept 27, 2024. The earlier EN 60825-1:2014+A11:2021 stipulates that consumer laser products must comply with EN 50689 after its release.
CENELEC The website links：https://standards.cencenelec.eu/
Consumer laser product:
Product or assembly of components that constitutes or incorporates a laser or laser system and that is intended for consumers, or is likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions even though it is not intended for them.
The following four categories of products are not include:
• Not include consumer laser products that are designed to project laser radiation in the wavelength range of 380nm to 780nm onto the retina, with an intended daily usage duration of potentially many hours (such as for virtual reality or augmented reality applications);
• Not include products intended for professional use and restrictions as specified in this document do not apply to non-consumer laser products (compliance with laser products EN 60825-1 is sufficient)；
• Not include electric toys products（which are covered by EN 62115）；
• Not include Class 1C consumer laser products（Class 1C products: The product is in close contact with the exposed person, and the radiation released does not exceed the Class 1 level, and the laser is only exposed to the skin surface, not to the eyes. For example, laser beauty instrument, laser hair loss instrument）.
Additional requirements for EN 50689:2021:
First, comply with EN 60825-1 and then meet the following additional requirements:
• Laser products that appeal to children (not toys, but other appearance, shape, color, function, etc. attract children to play and use);
• The laser classification must be Class 1;
• Not exceed the maximum permissible exposure values for the skin as specified in EN 60825-1:2014 table A.5;
• The worst-case position in the beam shall not exceed 0.001W/m2 in the wavelength range 180nm≤λ<315nm;
• Complies with other relevant rules;
• Child appealing consumer laser products shall comply with the battery safety requirements from EN IEC 62115:2020.
Other consumer laser products:
• Laser classification can only be Class 1 or Class 2 or Class 3R；
• At any position the reachable laser cannot exceed Class 3B；
• During any user maintenance, access to laser radiation in excess of the assigned laser class shall not be possible.
Requirements for Class 3R consumer laser products:
• The laser product shall not be a laser pointer;
• A statement justifying the reason why a Class 3R product is required shall be given in the information to the user. This will include why a Class 1 or Class 2 consumer laser product is not adequate.
• A deliberate action is required by the user prior to activation of the laser emission, avoiding unexpected exposure. A clear emission indication on the device shall be provided;
• Intrabeam viewing is not intended or necessary for the function of the product;
• The laser radiation in the wavelength shall be within the range of 400 nm ≤ λ < 1250 nm;
• The AEL that is applied for classification shall be based on C6=1 according to EN 60825-1;
• For the wavelength range of 400nm to 700nm in case of continuous wave emission (i.e. no pulse duration less than 0.25s) or pulsed accessible emission, the peak power of the continuous wave emission or pulses shall not exceed 5mW as defined by the AEL of Class 3R for emission duration t equal to 0.25s;
• For the wavelength range of 700nm to 1250nm in case of continuous wave emission or, pulsed accessible emission, the peak power of the pulses shall not exceed 2 x C4 x C7 mW as defined by the AEL of Class 3R for emission duration of t equal to 100s.
EN 50689:2021 user information and labeling:
The requirements of this Clause 7 (labeling) and Clause 8 (information for the user, purchasing and servicing information) apply additionally to the requirements of EN 60825-1:
The reference standard is changed to EN 50689:2021 (both EN 50689:2021 and EN 60825-1:2014 are allowed);
The user shall describe the product’s intended use as a consumer laser product.
Consumer laser product:
Product or assembly of components that constitutes or incorporates a laser or laser system and that is intended for consumers, or is likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions even though it is not intended for them.
The following four categories of products are not include:
• Not include consumer laser products that are designed to project laser radiation in the wavelength range of 380nm to 780nm onto the retina, with an intended daily usage duration of potentially many hours (such as for virtual reality or augmented reality applications);
• Not include products intended for professional use and restrictions as specified in this document do not apply to non-consumer laser products (compliance with laser products EN 60825-1 is sufficient)；
• Not include electric toys products（which are covered by EN 62115）；
• Not include Class 1C consumer laser products（Class 1C products: The product is in close contact with the exposed person, and the radiation released does not exceed the Class 1 level, and the laser is only exposed to the skin surface, not to the eyes. For example, laser beauty instrument, laser hair loss instrument）.
Additional requirements for EN 50689:2021:
First, comply with EN 60825-1 and then meet the following additional requirements:
• Laser products that appeal to children (not toys, but other appearance, shape, color, function, etc. attract children to play and use);
• The laser classification must be Class 1;
• Not exceed the maximum permissible exposure values for the skin as specified in EN 60825-1:2014 table A.5;
• The worst-case position in the beam shall not exceed 0.001W/m2 in the wavelength range 180nm≤λ<315nm;
• Complies with other relevant rules;
• Child appealing consumer laser products shall comply with the battery safety requirements from EN IEC 62115:2020.
Other consumer laser products:
• Laser classification can only be Class 1 or Class 2 or Class 3R；
• At any position the reachable laser cannot exceed Class 3B；
• During any user maintenance, access to laser radiation in excess of the assigned laser class shall not be possible.
Requirements for Class 3R consumer laser products:
• The laser product shall not be a laser pointer;
• A statement justifying the reason why a Class 3R product is required shall be given in the information to the user. This will include why a Class 1 or Class 2 consumer laser product is not adequate.
• A deliberate action is required by the user prior to activation of the laser emission, avoiding unexpected exposure. A clear emission indication on the device shall be provided;
• Intrabeam viewing is not intended or necessary for the function of the product;
• The laser radiation in the wavelength shall be within the range of 400 nm ≤ λ < 1250 nm;
• The AEL that is applied for classification shall be based on C6=1 according to EN 60825-1;
• For the wavelength range of 400nm to 700nm in case of continuous wave emission (i.e. no pulse duration less than 0.25s) or pulsed accessible emission, the peak power of the continuous wave emission or pulses shall not exceed 5mW as defined by the AEL of Class 3R for emission duration t equal to 0.25s;
• For the wavelength range of 700nm to 1250nm in case of continuous wave emission or, pulsed accessible emission, the peak power of the pulses shall not exceed 2 x C4 x C7 mW as defined by the AEL of Class 3R for emission duration of t equal to 100s.
EN 50689:2021 user information and labeling:
The requirements of this Clause 7 (labeling) and Clause 8 (information for the user, purchasing and servicing information) apply additionally to the requirements of EN 60825-1:
The reference standard is changed to EN 50689:2021 (both EN 50689:2021 and EN 60825-1:2014 are allowed);
The user shall describe the product’s intended use as a consumer laser product.
