Regulated through federal weapons control and health agencies rather than standalone printing law.
Across Latin America there is very little standalone 3D printing legislation. Instead, additive manufacturing is caught by federal firearms statutes, which apply regardless of the technology used, and by health surveillance agencies governing printed medical devices.
Decree No. 11,615/2023, enforced by the Policia Federal: manufacturing firearms or controlled accessories without a licence is illegal regardless of technology, whether CNC machining or additive manufacturing.
ANVISA: issued specific guidelines governing custom medical devices including printed implants and prosthetics, requiring registered manufacturing facilities and quality control processes.
Ley 20.429, administered by ANMAC: manufacturing any firearm or pressure-bearing part without a permit is illegal regardless of technique, making unlicensed printed firearm components a federal offence.
ANMAT: governs custom patient-matched implants, surgical guides and printed prosthetics, requiring material traceability, biocompatibility certification and clinical safety compliance.
Decree 273/2025: streamlined import controls for industrial machinery and electronic equipment, affecting commercial printer importation while keeping health and safety checks in place.
Decreto 2535 de 1993: strictly controls production, assembly and modification of weapons. Producing firearms, receivers or silencers via printing or CNC machining without state authority violates national security statutes.
INVIMA: regulates custom additive medical products, requiring registration and quality standards comparable to ISO 13485 for facilities making printed dental products, orthopaedic implants and patient-specific surgical tools.
Law 2232 on single-use plastics: sets guidelines on industrial polymer production and circular economy requirements, affecting large-scale plastic additive manufacturing.
Ley N 17.798 de Control de Armas: prohibits unauthorised fabrication, assembly or modification of firearms or essential parts. Printed firearm parts are treated as illegal weapon production under federal jurisdiction.
Institute of Public Health (ISP): regulates printed medical devices and custom implants, requiring sanitary registration, material safety data and clinical validation before patient use.
INAPI: enforces patent and design protections, treating unauthorised commercial distribution or reproduction of patented goods via CAD models as industrial property infringement.
Peru (SUCAMEC): enforces strict licensing for firearm production. Unlicensed printing of guns or components is treated as illegal arms trafficking or manufacturing under the penal code.
Uruguay (SMA, Ministry of National Defense): additive manufacturing of firearms or components without direct military authorisation is strictly prohibited.
Ley de Armas y Explosivos N 7530, enforced by the Ministry of Public Security: illegal to manufacture, assemble or modify firearms or major components without an explicit government permit. Printing untraceable firearms falls under illegal weapons production.
Ministry of Health, Executive Decree N 34482-S: regulates custom patient-matched printed devices, dental aligners and implants. Facilities must register devices, submit raw material safety data and maintain ISO 13485 standards.
Free Trade Zone rules: industrial printers imported into Zonas Francas for medical or aerospace export must comply with PROCOMER and customs tracking.
Ley 57 de 2011, overseen by DIASP: manufacturing firearms, receivers or silencers by additive manufacturing or CNC milling without a state licence is prohibited.
MINSA and the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs: regulate custom printed healthcare tools, surgical guides and dental prosthetics.
Ley 35 de Propiedad Industrial, enforced by DIGERPI: unauthorised commercial scanning, copying or localised printing of patented machinery spare parts, especially for Canal logistics and maritime equipment, is commercial counterfeiting.
El Salvador: the Ley de Control y Regulacion de Armas de Fuego, administered by the Ministry of National Defense, makes printing firearms or pressure-bearing components illegal without state military authorisation. The DNM enforces sanitary registration and risk classification for printed medical devices.
Guatemala: Decree 15-2009, enforced by DIGECAM, treats unlicensed production of frames, receivers or barrels by additive manufacturing as illegal weapons manufacturing. MSPAS regulates custom medical prints.
Honduras: Decree 101-2018 criminalises unauthorised assembly or manufacture of weapons or components. ARSA manages registration for printed patient-specific medical tools.
SIECA: standardises tariff codes across Central America for importing printing hardware, raw polymer powders and specialty metal filaments.
All Central American nations are signatories to WIPO and TRIPS. Distributing proprietary CAD files online or printing patented commercial goods for sale is actionable IP infringement across the region.