In a recent “call to action”, the European Union invited 3D printing companies to support hospitals experiencing an emergency shortage of critical pieces of equipment. Indeed, for Commissioner Breton, 3D printing should be included in a new fund aiming to sustain different sectors, such as healthcare, in this time of need.
However, as Filip Geerts, CECIMO Director General, states, “it is in the best interest of all to clarify the regulatory issues in order to move forward quickly and in a way that is not going to delay immediate actions“.
In this regard, the European association for Additive Manufacturing has established a list of recommendations that policymakers should take into account to implement a guideline that will properly protect 3D printing companies.
These recommendations are shared below as received from Cecimo:
- Use government’s official channels to communicate any requests to print parts, upload a list of essential supplies and provide the necessary files for printing to those companies who request them.
- Temporarily waive the Medical Device and Product Liability Directive requirements that would hamper AM companies’ response to the extraordinary demand of equipment by healthcare sector.
- Provide temporary authorization to use patents of essential supplies and services without the consent of patent holders.
- Cooperate closely with the customs authorities to accelerate the approval procedures for imports/ exports of essential supplies and/or 3D Printing Hardware and ensure free flow of essential supplies and/or 3D Printing Hardware within the EU’s internal market.
- Include the AM sector in the list of the essential value chains that should continue its activities during the lockdown period.
- Enable a quicker and smoother access to the market of new essential medical and protection equipment, by providing temporary access to certification, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Cecimo also encourages policymakers to:
- Develop and approve a fast reprogramming of the European structural funds in line with what the was recently approved by the European Parliament. This action should aim to improve the provisioning of the health sector in general and, those sectors such as the AM, especially involved in supplying hospitals and other health institutions.
- Prioritize the scale-up of the European manufacturers’ capabilities addressing pressing issues such as shortage of components or equipment.
In our first conversation with Cecimo, Geerts made it clear that their team’s goal is to protect the interest of the Additive Manufacturing sector at a European level by improving policy and regulatory initiatives and by promoting all the players in the AM value chain. Today, more than ever, it is of paramount importance for the industry to be heard and Cecimo is making this voice heard in the European policy-making circles. The only question that remains is: what will be the EU Legislator’s feedback on these recommendations? #StayTuned
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