3D Printing

Is Regulation Coming?

David Webber Senior Partner & Advisor

PA Europe Brussels

Simple Answer

Yes

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Functions

Is Regulation Coming? Yes

Only real question is When? and What?

7

MAY 2013 CODY WILSON

SUCCESSFULLY ‘FIRES’ 3D PRINTED GUN

Also May 2013….. Suffering from a rare birth

defect known as tracheobronchomalacia 3 month old baby Kaiba

received a tiny airway splint created using a

3D printer – a real life saver!

3D Printing – emerging opportunity? They think so....

Source – McKinsey – May 2013

3D printing becomes industrial strength

3D printing starts saving lives

Customization becomes the norm

3D Printing Expectations - Forbes

Product innovation is faster

New companies emerge with innovative business models

3D print shops open on the highstreet

Heated debates on IP

New products with magical properties

New machines grace the factory floor

“Look what I made!”

• the 3D printing movement has been built on openness and flexibility. However, if 3D printing is to move into complex, investment-intensive parts of the manufacturing industry there needs to be significant incentive to invest in designs and patentable ideas, without fear of copying.

Intellectual property

• 3D printers may make it possible for people to produce dangerous items, such as guns, in their homes. Regulators will want, as in California, to find suitable ways of controlling and limiting such activities, without stifling the operation of 3D printing markets.

Regulation

• determining liability when 3D printed products cause accidents may not be straightforward and may influence take-up of the technology and damage consumer confidence.

Legal responsibility

Regulatory Challenges

• developing effective standards for parts, processes and safety will be needed to help firms involved in 3D printing work together, and build consumer confidence;

Standards

• 3D printers need suitable materials to unlock their full potential; ensuring access to such materials is critical as well as competition - at present there are only a few companies in this space.

Materials

• whilst the existing frameworks will also be applicable in this area however enforcement will be challenging. Different to legal responsibility there are also issues of 'food safety' with 3D Printing.

Health and Safety

• millions of 3D printers in the market and homes could lead to serious questions on sustainability of 3D printing and the ecological footprint. Businesses engaged in this market will have to find suitable materials and introduce recycling systems.

Sustainability

• as 3D printing develops, particularly towards 'bio-printing', there will be questions and debates on the ethics of printing body parts and organs, especially if these encourage unhealthy lifestyles or are for testing purposes.

Ethics

• already a challenge in some countries is the reimbursement and availability of 3D printed medical devices, such as artificial hips, teeth.

Health systems

• already companies involved in 3D printing face a challenge in recruitment. In the coming years this shortage will only increase and policy makers need to start now looking to address this - ICT good example with 1 million shortage by 2015 - compared to 20 million unemployed.

Skills and training

Regulatory Storms are Brewing

European Parliamentary Questions Wim van de Camp: Is the Commission aware of reports that 3D

printers make it possible for the general public to produce their own pistols and ammunition?

Kathleen van Brempt: Are there any European or national quality standards for the materials used in 3D printing? If not, does the

Commission plan to introduce such European quality standards?

Iñaki Irazabalbeitia Fernández: According to a study carried out by the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, 3D printers are a source of

ultrafine particles when they are in use. Is the Commission aware of this study?

European Parliament questions on (potentially)

negative aspects of 3D printing

Lack of knowledge on 3D printing’s potential among

policy makers

Authorities Worry 3-D Printers May Undermine

Europe’s Gun Laws

Commissioner Tajani: 3D Printing key to industrial

revival of EU

European Commission seeks 'Capital of Innovation' to

stimulate 3D printing

Van Rompuy opened Materialise World

Conference

European Spacy Agency AMAZE Project

Negatives Positives

Is Regulation Coming? Yes

Only real question is When? (1-2 years) and What?

(Depends)

Over to you..... .......questions? David Webber, Senior Partner & Advisor PA Europe - Strategy Consulting & Public Affairs dw@pa-europe.com