"Japan Xianyu" Mercari warned against 3D printing handicrafts, saying there may be health and safety risks

CTOnews.com, June 27 (Xinhua) Mercari, Japan's largest second-hand trading platform, recently issued a warning against handmade products made with 3D printers, saying there may be health and safety risks in trading such products on the platform.

▲ image source PixabayMercari pointed out that tableware and kitchen utensils made with 3D printers have hygiene problems because the delamination marks produced during the manufacturing process may breed bacteria and they are low in heat resistance and cannot be sterilized by boiling.

At the same time, because 3D printers usually use a plastic material called PLA resin, which is easily heated. Therefore, in addition to tableware, self-made lampshades and lampholders may also melt or catch fire because of improper use.

However, Mercari said it would not ban the sale of 3D-printed handmade products on the platform, but sellers must confirm that there is no such risk and clearly mark them as 3D printing. Mercari also calls on sellers to provide more product risk information so that buyers can assess the purchase risk in advance.

CTOnews.com previously reported that Israeli food technology company Steakholder Foods last month launched the world's first artificial fish made using 3D printing, but the fish is not made of PLA resin, but uses a special biological ink material, thus avoiding potential food safety risks.