The European Commission has postponed by one year the date of application of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) till 26 May, 2021, “to allow member states, health institutions and economic operators to prioritise the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
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The coronavirus crisis has created extraordinary circumstances that require substantial additional resources and an increased availability of vitally important medical devices. As is noted in the EU Commission’s statement, none of this could reasonably have been anticipated at the time of adoption of the MDR.
Previously, there has not been a single EU-wide policy on the reuse of SUDs.
The MDR seeks to ensure that remanufactured devices meet certain standards. Currently,
the in-house reuse of single-use devices (SUDs) is allowed, but under the MDR must
have ceased by 26 May, 2020, and use of professionally remanufactured (CE
marked) single-use medical devices adopted instead. The latter practice has
been implemented in the U.S., Germany, Canada, the UK and other countries. In
Europe, it is under review in Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The current postponement, however, will allow increased availability of
vitally important medical devices across the EU whilst continuing to ensure patient
health and safety until the new legislation becomes applicable, the EU
Commission stated.
According to Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, the
priority is “to support Member States to address the coronavirus crisis and
protect public health as powerfully as possible – by all means necessary.” The
Commissioner pointed out that as the COVID-19 crisis increased demands for
certain vital medical devices, any potential market disruptions regarding the
availability of safe and essential medical devices must be avoided. Therefore, the
current rules will continue to apply for one more year.
It is
noted thatthe date of application of the In Vitro Diagnostics
Medical Devices Regulation, which becomes applicable from 26 May 2022, is not
affected.
UPDATE:
Guidance on medical devices, active implantable medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in the COVID-19 context, 3 April 2020
IMDRF Standards Checklist modified in scope of COVID-19, 3 April 2020
Source: European Commission
Image credit: iStock
