fda administrator clamping down!, or UPS

[senecaripple]

on tracking my light vision laser <5mw from tawain, left tawain 4.2.05 tawain time. arrived in anchorage ak, 1:38pm,louisville ky 4.2.05, 10:38am,"package was delayed by a food and drug administration hold, then departure scan,1:38pm anchorage ak, and today(4.3.05) back to louisville ky 10:31am, import scan, hopefully enroute to hillsboro, Or. Ups must've sent it to the fda for inspection. if that's the case avoid UPS for your shipment!

 

[greenLED]

I'm not familiar with lasers, what does the food and drug admin have to do with lasers? It's not like someone's going to eat a laser, or get a "high" (well... maybe some CPF'ers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif). Anyway, just curious.

 

[senecaripple]

i know, i can see the nuclear regulatory commission getting involved because of it radiation emmission, or osha, but the fda?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

The FDA and the CDRH (Center for Devices and Radiological Health) seem to work hand-in-hand with one another. So the FDA is well within their rights and abilities to inspect a laser shipment.

 

[James S]

it probably doesn't have anything to do with being a laser. they delay LOTS of stuff there that gets on the list for inspection, or just that the paperwork isn't finished, or if it's the first shipment of a new product or any number of a lot of reasons. When I've ordered new powerbooks that were the first shipment from a new company in Taiwan they have been delayed there for 2 or 3 days sometimes. Later when all the paperwork is complete to their satisfaction they let things go through much more quickly. So really, this is nothing unusual. And it probably means that the company in Taiwan didn't have all the appropriate paperwork done to let the stuff through customs. That is a huge customs inspection center there.

 

[greenLED]

I see, so the FDA gets called in 'cuz laser radiation could be harmful to humans given the right conditions?

 

[senecaripple]

the first batch was supposed to have been sent to canada, but canadian customs held them. so, this taiwanese company sent this second batch to their american affiliate in oregon. gee, i wonder if i'm on their watch list. i only ordered one, wait, why is that black sedan following me? oh! its only national security! for a moment i thought it was the fbi!

 

[Lasernerd]

presenting a product to the public

 

[bootleg2go]

What most likely happened was that your laser somehow slipped past customs in Anchorage...not sure how, but then when it arrive in the UPS hub in Ky., it was discovered that it did not have the customs clearance it needed, so they sent it back to Anchorage to go through customs. It's not a matter of avoiding a certain shipper, all of them need to have their shipments inspected by customs agents. More than anything what matters is how the shipper classifys the item, there are probably a couple of dozen different classification codes that are for lasers and depending on which one is used determines how quickly it gets through and how much customs duties are charged on the import.

good luck
Jack

 

[LaserMod]

The Food and Drug Administration, I suppose lasers - like drugs are addictive well to me anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

 

[senecaripple]

so, there's this chance that i may not see this laser? fda sent this batch back to customs because of improper paperwork or classification? customs may just retain it or return them to taiwan. that bites. ther're really clamping down.

 

[bootleg2go]

I'm sure things may "tighten up" as you say in the near future; but what you are experiencing is normal proceedure for anything coming through customs, if they don't have all the required paperwork completed, it does not get through. Yours just slipped by customs in Anchorage and was then discovered in Ky. that it had not cleared so it had to go back to get cleared. You can call UPS and talk to their international people about your shipment to check it's status. There is not much to do right now but wait. If there is something missing in the paperwork, customs will contact the shipper and tell them what is needed. I would contact UPS and see to make sure that the shipper(company you bought from) is getting US customs the stuff they want. If they ignore customs for more than 2-3 business days and do not respond, the merchandise could be destroyed.

Let us know what happens.
Jack

 

[senecaripple]

ok, thanks, i'll check with the tracking tomorrow after work, if it's still in anchorage, i'll give ups a call.

 

[trident]

My laser lagged in inspection for at least 3 days once it touched US soil

 

[MikeF]

FDA is also involved with lasers because there are medical applications and devices using laser. Lasik, cosmetic procedures, etc.

 

[Raccoon]

On a random note, why don't we have an FFA?

Federal Freedom Administration

 

[senecaripple]

just another bureacratic agency!