Per end user
Each shipment licensed against a named end user. Workable for project sales and service companies.
Compliance
Two separate rules. We check both, in writing.
Export control decides whether the machine may leave China. Market access decides whether it may be sold where it lands. Neither substitutes for the other — and both are settled before a price is agreed.
In short
China's dual-use controls turn on the working mode, not the wattage: continuous wave units at 1–3 kW generally fall outside the pulsed criteria, while pulsed units frequently meet them. A controlled shipment needs a licence tied to a named end user — realistically 8 to 12 weeks. CE evidence for both families was issued in May 2026.
Rule 01 · Export control
The working mode decides, not the wattage.
A 3,000 W continuous wave unit and a 200 W pulsed unit sit on opposite sides of this line — which surprises buyers who assume the higher power is the harder one.
For lasers in the 1,000–1,100 nm range, the dual-use entry applies where several conditions hold together: pulsed excitation with Q-switching, pulse duration at or above 1 ns, and output above the single-mode or multimode threshold. Continuous wave units do not meet that combination. Pulsed units frequently do.
A controlled unit needs a licence per end user and per shipment, with an undertaking not to transfer the equipment onward. That condition shapes the commercial structure — which is why we ask, up front, whether you intend to operate the machine or resell it.
| Licensing stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Provincial initial review | ≈ 5 working days |
| Central review | Up to 45 working days |
| Licence issue | ≈ 3 working days |
| Total, realistic | 8 – 12 weeks |
Set by the reviewing authority, not by us. Contracts that exclude the licensing period from the delivery date are the difference between a delay and a breach.
Structures that work
Three ways to sell a controlled unit.
The licence structure, not the price, decides whether a distributor can hold stock. Worth settling before the first order.
A
B
Distributor holds and operates
The distributor is the end user — buying to use, not resell. Cleanest route for a rental fleet or service business.
C
General licence
Where the exporter qualifies, covers multiple shipments for one to two years — close to stock availability, once earned.
The structure that does not work
Buying controlled units into stock for open resale. The licence is tied to an end user who undertakes not to transfer onward; a warehouse does not satisfy that condition.
Test evidence
What is already tested, and by whom.
CE-tested as a product family by an accredited third-party laboratory in Shenzhen, reports issued May 2026. Under private label, the Declaration of Conformity is issued under your brand with this evidence behind it.
| Scope | Directive | Standards applied |
|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic compatibility — emissions & immunity | 2014/30/EU (EMC) | EN IEC 61000-6-2:2019 · EN IEC 61000-6-4:2019 · EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019+A1:2021+A2:2024 · EN 61000-3-3:2013+A1:2019+A2:2021 |
| Machinery safety — risk assessment, electrical equipment, laser processing machines | Machinery Directive | EN ISO 12100:2010 · EN 60204-1:2018+A1:2025 · EN ISO 11553-1:2020+A11:2020 · EN 60825-1:2014+A11:2021 |
Family coverage spans the continuous wave series from 1 to 6 kW and the pulsed series from 100 to 3,000 W. Report copies and the draft Declaration of Conformity are sent with a quotation. A conformity verification (VoC, No. ICR/VC/HFH260516, ICR, 22 May 2026, valid to 21 May 2031) covers the same family — voluntary third-party verification of the test file.
Rule 02 · Market access
CE, and what changes on 20 January 2027.
For the United Kingdom, CE marking continues to be recognised; UKCA remains voluntary for most machinery. Northern Ireland is the exception.
In the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces the Machinery Directive from 20 January 2027 — adding obligations that matter for laser equipment: cybersecurity, software as a safety component, digital instructions, and rules on substantial modification.
A technical file written to the old directive will not support a machine sold after that date. If your programme runs past January 2027, the file has to be written for the new regulation now.
| Before quotation | What we provide |
|---|---|
| Is this configuration controlled? | Working mode and pulse characteristics, stated against the control criteria |
| Which licence structure? | End-user, self-use or general licence — with the commercial consequences of each |
| What documentation ships? | Technical file, declaration, manual language, customs parameters |
| Realistic timeline? | Licensing period and shipping lead time stated separately |
Ask for the compliance position before you ask for the price.
Send the configuration and destination. The answer comes back in writing, with the criteria it was assessed against.
Request a compliance noteFAQ
Questions buyers ask
The answers we give on the phone before a quotation is written.
Is a laser cleaning machine export-controlled from China?
It depends on the working mode, not the wattage. The dual-use entry for lasers in the 1,000–1,100 nm range applies where several conditions hold together: pulsed excitation with Q-switching, pulse duration at or above 1 ns, and output above the single-mode or multimode threshold. Continuous wave units do not meet that combination. Pulsed units frequently do — which surprises buyers who assume the higher power is the harder one.
How long does an export licence take?
Realistically 8 to 12 weeks: about 5 working days for provincial initial review, up to 45 working days for central review, and about 3 working days to issue. The period is set by the reviewing authority, not by the exporter — which is why contracts should exclude the licensing period from the delivery date.
Can a distributor hold stock of a controlled unit?
Not for open resale. The licence is tied to a named end user who undertakes not to transfer the equipment onward, and a warehouse does not satisfy that condition. Workable structures are per-end-user licensing for project sales, the distributor buying as the end user for its own fleet or rental business, or a general licence once the exporter qualifies for one.
Is CE marking still accepted in the United Kingdom?
Yes. For most machinery, CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain and UKCA remains voluntary. Northern Ireland is the exception, where EU rules apply. We state the position for the specific configuration before quotation rather than leaving it to the buyer to discover.
What changes in the EU on 20 January 2027?
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 replaces the Machinery Directive and adds obligations that matter for laser equipment: cybersecurity, software treated as a safety component, digital instructions, and rules on substantial modification. A technical file written to the old directive will not support a machine placed on the market after that date, so a programme running past January 2027 needs the file written to the new regulation now.
What test evidence do you actually have?
CE testing as a product family by an accredited third-party laboratory in Shenzhen, reports issued May 2026, covering EMC (EN IEC 61000-6-2, EN IEC 61000-6-4, EN IEC 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3) and machinery safety (EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1, EN ISO 11553-1, EN 60825-1). Family coverage spans continuous wave 1 to 6 kW and pulsed 100 to 3,000 W. A conformity verification, No. ICR/VC/HFH260516, is valid to 21 May 2031.