Category: European Market

This blog delves into the changes in the MDCG 2022-11 Revision 1 and NAMSA Experts’ take on what the changes mean for manufacturers.

This blog delves into the approaching deadlines and reasoning for moving forward with MDR certifications now.

In this blog, we assess if MDCG 2023-4, published in October 2023, lessens the regulatory burden and clarifies the route to conformity for medical device Apps.

On 28 April 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published a communication updating previous information on the extension period for the mandatory implementation of the United Kingdom Conformity Assessment (UKCA) process for medical devices. This update is resultant from the recent amendment by the EU Commission (EU 2023/607) to extend the transition period for MDR 2017/745.

On 7 March, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published the minutes of their Advisory Group, recommending ten (10) specific proposals to International Recognition, Routes for Innovation and System Capacity.

At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting on 9 December 2022, EU Member States unanimously agreed that actions should be taken to ensure that the supply of medical devices is maintained during the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) transition period. Specific issues regarding Notified Body capacity and ongoing expiration of the EU’s Medical Device Directive (MDD) certificates during transition were the main concerns.

On the 7 September 2022, the European Commission announced publication of the latest manual on borderline and classification in the community regulatory framework for medical devices and In Vitro Diagnostic medical devices (Borderline Manual). This is the first version of the manual published under the requirements of the EU MDR.

On 14 June 2022, the European Health Ministers met and echoed concerns surrounding the preparedness of medical device and IVD manufacturers for Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) conformity. If left unaddressed, the lack of preparedness may lead to the disruption of the supply of devices needed for health systems and patients, and could also jeopardize the access of innovative medical devices to the European market.

On 26 June 2022, the United Kingdom’s Medical Devices and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) published the results and conclusions from the consultation process regarding the new Medical Device Regulations for the UK. The final proposals contain comprehensive coverage of the various requirements to be included in the new UK Medical Device Regulations guidance. These new regulations are primarily based on EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 requirements, but with significant differences in some key areas and new requirements surrounding new and innovative medical devices.

In late April 2022, the long-awaited Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) guidance on borderline devices under the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) was published. In this newly-released guidance, the MDCG essentially replaces the borderline guidance in MEDDEV 2.1/3 Rev3, originally written for the EU Medical Device Directive (MDD).

ew Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) guidance document, MDCG 2022-4: “Guidance on appropriate surveillance regarding the transitional provisions under Article 120 of the MDR with regard to devices covered by certificates according to the MDD or the AIMDD,” was published on the 16 February 2022. It provides information for both manufacturers and Notified Bodies (NBs) concerning the transition requirements for legacy medical devices.

On 14 December 2021, the European Commission published a new Implementing Regulation, (EU) 2021/2226, explaining the rules regarding the application of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Specifically, this document highlights the provision of electronic instructions for use (eIFU) for medical devices, which came into force on 4 January 2022.

The New Year saw the European Commission (EC) publish a second batch of harmonised standards under the EU MDR. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/6, released on 4 January 2022, amends the earlier Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1182 published in July 2021. It introduces a further nine harmonised standards that medical device manufacturers should reference to satisfy conformity requirements under the MDR.

Following the release of the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) guidance 2021-24 on 4 October, 2021, MDCG published additional guidance, MDCG 2021-25 Regulation (EU) 2017/745, dated 21 October, 2021.

On 4 October 2021, the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) released the long-awaited guidance document (MDCG 2021-24) on classification of medical devices under MDR 2017/745.

On 3 April 2020, NAMSA’s EU Regulatory experts provided a critique of The European Commission’s proposal to delay the date of MDR application. Since this time, the European Council provided feedback regarding the European Commission’s proposal to delay the date of application of certain provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on Medical Devices (MDR) by one year to 26 May 2021 in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Those involved in medical device design and development, quality and regulatory processes, and conformity assessments of medical products in the EU have rapidly diverted efforts to projects enabling increased production of essential medical devices such as ventilators due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Understandably, the medical devices industry is unable to focus efforts towards the fast-approaching current date of application of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (MDR) of 26 May 2020.

As EU medical device manufacturers and sponsors scramble to meet Medical Device Regulation (MDR) conformity in just six months, a second draft corrigenda was published on 25 November 2019 that implements many new proposed changes benefiting some EU device makers.

The EU Commission has released draft documents correcting aspects of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) 2017/746. These drafts are currently under review by the EU Competent Authorities with comments expected by 20 March 2019. You may locate these documents by clicking on the links below: Draft Document for … Continued

Often overlooked, Article II7 of the European Union’s (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) lurks within Chapter X of the Final Provisions. However, this article is of high impact to market authorisation holders who provide medicinal products integral with administration devices. Specifically, it states that manufacturers of administrative devices must seek the opinion of a … Continued

Twelve (12) months ago, the EU Commission published a Notice to Stakeholders, “Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Rules in the Field of Industrial Products,” that described the consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU as of 29 March 2019. This document explains the impact on Economic Operators and Notified Bodies, … Continued

On the 24 January 2019, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published contingency legislation which provides regulatory guidance for medicines, medical devices and clinical trials in the event that the UK departs the EU with no agreement on 29 March 2019. The Secretary of State, Stephen Hammond, also signed off on the … Continued

The EU Commission’s website dedicated to Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) planning has recently been updated, and now includes a new and dedicated page for preparation of the new regulations. This online resource, found here, includes a tool for stakeholders and Economic Operators to search for information specific to their … Continued

The countdown for the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745 EU), what will soon be the only governing EU medical device regulation, is quickly approaching. The compliance deadline of May 2020 may seem quite far away, but with a significant reduction in Notified Body capacity, a sizable increase in demand for regulatory certification services is … Continued

The first half of October experienced a (small) flurry of activity from key stakeholders implementing the European Union’s (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR). In addition, useful templates for Field Safety Notices (FSN) under the existing EU Directives (Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive [AIMDD], Medical Device Directive [MDD] and In … Continued

Since the approval of the Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (IVDR) by the EU Commission on 5 April 2017, the lack of substantive guidance has hindered manufacturers’ preparation to ensure they properly address new regulatory expectations by the mandatory conformity dates of May 2020 and May 2022, respectively. Fifteen … Continued

Introduction Increasingly, the world is engaged in conversations surrounding mobile and digital health applications. These types of platforms – broadly defined – encompass everything from pedometers, fitness apps, exercise diaries and even products that monitor health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. European manufacturers of such digital health technologies, medical applications and wearable … Continued

On 10 January 2018, the EU Commission issued the document, “Notice to Stakeholders: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Rules in the Field of Industrial Products.” While this notice does not contain information previously unknown to the UK government and medical device sectors, it does emphasize the implications of the failure of the UK … Continued

On 23 June 2016, more than 30 million citizens in the United Kingdom (UK) voted in a referendum to determine whether the country should leave or remain part of the European Union (EU) – a political and economic union composed of 28 member states. The vote emerged victorious for the UK to depart the EU, … Continued

On August 29, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published an interactive guide to assist Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) companies with a comprehensive understanding of the new and different EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR) requirements. The MDR and IVDR … Continued

The European Union’s (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR), officially passed in April of 2017, may cause significant changes to the regulatory obligations of legal manufacturers, importers and distributors involved in the medical device distribution chain. The new MDR regulations differ significantly from the current EU Medical Device Directive (MDD) and go beyond design, development and … Continued

The approval of the new European (EU) Medical Device Directive (MDR) and EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) on April 5, 2017 by the EU Parliament in Strasburg, France has prompted the implementation phase of this new and significant legislation. Its legal debut entitled, “Entry into Force,” follows 20 days after publication in the European … Continued