The European Parliament this week formally agreed to delay the requirement for certain currently approved class 1 medical devices to comply with the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) when it comes into force on May 26, 2020. Consequently, manufacturers of reusable surgical instruments and devices that have a measuring function will have an additional four years to meet the stricter requirements of MDR.
LONDON – Long-awaited guidance on how software will be treated under the stricter EU devices regulations brings clarity but also adds to the mountain of preparations needed to comply with the new rules. The vast majority of software products that are treated as class I under the current rules – and therefore self-certified – will be upgraded to class IIa and higher under the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) coming into effect in May 2020, and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), which takes effect May 2022.
Device makers were generally supportive of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) proposal to up-classify active medical devices with an integrated diagnostic function that significantly determines patient management by the device (such as closed loop systems or automated external defibrillators) to class III, the highest risk designation used by TGA.
PERTH, Australia – Although medical device industry stakeholders agreed in principle with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) proposal to align its classification with the EU's for implantable spinal devices, they viewed the interpretation of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) classification rule for these devices differently.
BOSTON – The transition of the European med-tech regulatory system is not going well, but Oliver Bisazza, director of regulations at Medtech Europe, said device makers should nonetheless continue preparing product dossiers for recertification of existing CE marks because "you have to be able to show them you have been making an honest go of it" where re-certification is concerned.
PERTH, Australia – The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking feedback on a proposal that to change Australia's medical device essential principles for safety and performance to more closely mirror the new EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR).
LONDON – France's Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM) has published draft guidelines on the cybersecurity of medical devices, becoming the first national regulator in Europe to specify what manufacturers should do to protect devices against malicious attacks.
