Introduction

The European Commission has published its proposals on the amendment of the Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation 2017/746 (IVDR) (“the proposals”). This marks a pivotal moment for the EU healthcare and MedTech landscape, following a public consultation by the Commission in early 2025 (see our blog here) and a call for evidence in September 2025 (see our blog here). The proposals respond to industry concerns over complexity, cost, and delays which have been substantially hammering the MedTech industry since the implementation of the MDR and IVDR.

The proposals aim to streamline regulatory processes, reduce administrative burden, and enhance predictability, while maintaining patient safety and public health. From adaptive pathways for breakthrough and orphan devices to leaner conformity assessments, stronger notified body (NB) governance, and changes to classification, these changes are designed to future-proof the regulatory framework and foster innovation. For manufacturers, healthcare institutions, innovators, and industry stakeholders, the proposals signal a shift toward a more proportionate, risk-based system that supports timely access to critical technologies without compromising quality.

Below, we have set out an overview of some of the key proposals.  Additionally, while not released with the proposals, the European Commission published a draft Implementing Regulation on certain uniform quality management and procedural requirements for the conformity assessment activities carried out by Notified Bodies – see our separate blog on this here.

The proposals have now been submitted to the European Parliament and Council for review. Once the Parliament and Council have adopted their own positions on the text, there will be negotiations to agree a final text which can be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament. At this stage, it is challenging to anticipate what would be the result of the political negotiations and unclear when the new rules will start to apply.

A feedback period has been opened, running from 7 January to 5 March 2026. All feedback received will be summarised by the Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate.Continue Reading From complexity to clarity: How the EU Commission plans to overhaul the MDR and IVDR

On 27 November 2025, the European Commission published a notice in the Official Journal confirming that the first four modules of the European database on medical devices (EUDAMED) are fully functional. The notice starts a 6 month transition period at the end of which companies in the medical devices supply chain, as well as Notified Bodies and competent authorities, will need to comply with a range of new obligations regarding registrations and data submission under the Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation 2017/746 (IVDR), as applicable. These include mandatory registration of devices and of economic operators.Continue Reading New Medical Device and IVD Registration and Transparency Requirements to Apply in 2026

In our previous blog post, we set out the Commission’s proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Regulations (EU) 2017/745 (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulations (EU) 2017/746 (IVDR). The new Regulation introducing these changes has now been published: Regulation (EU) 2024/1860.

The new Regulation includes a welcome extension to the transitional periods for certain IVDs under the IVDR, where applicable conditions have been met. The other proposals relate to a gradual roll-out of Eudamed and notification obligations for interruptions in supply.Continue Reading Transition periods under the IVDR extended

In this post, updating our series of posts on the implementation of the EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), we take a look at the latest steps taken by the EU institutions to ensure the MDR is fully applicable by May 2021.

Despite the summer break and the difficulties caused by the pandemic, the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) and the European Commission have endorsed a number of significant guidance documents relevant for manufacturers, national authorities, notified bodies and expert panels. In addition, the fourth implementing act, required by the MDR, has been adopted by the European Commission.
Continue Reading EU Medical Devices Regulation: Adoption of further guidance documents

Although the date of application of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) has been delayed by a year, to May 2021, the EU institutions continue to work on its implementation to ensure that the new framework is workable in time for the revised deadline.

In this post, which is part of our series of blog posts covering the implementation of the MDR, we set out a summary of key recent developments. As indicated below, as well as our previous posts, there are several important steps that still need to be taken with regard to MDR implementation. Similarly, many companies are still working on their own compliance. While industry undoubtedly faces a range of challenges in the context of the ongoing health crisis, and the delay provides some welcome breathing room for many, it will nevertheless be important to continue to progress MDR preparedness so that supply is not disrupted.
Continue Reading EU Medical Devices Regulation: implementation progress during the pandemic

There are now only two months to go before the date of application of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) on 26 May 2020. We have previously published updates on various implementation activities, and the concerns of industry and stakeholders that the deadline has been fast approaching but that there remains a huge amount to be finalised. The difficulties surrounding Brexit, and now the coronavirus pandemic, only add to these concerns. With the short amount of time remaining, we set out in this series of posts a summary of recent key developments.

As expected, the recent activity is focused on the MDR, and does not, on the whole, address the In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR), which is due to be applicable in 2022. While this is a pragmatic approach from the institutions given current timing, it remains the case that IVD manufacturers have little clarity on how the IVDR will operate, and it seems, are unlikely to obtain any in the near future.

Continue Reading Two months to go: Latest on the implementation of EU MDR (Part 1)

You will be aware from previous posts that industry has been concerned for some time about the amount of work to be done to ensure compliance with the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), and whether this can be completed by May 2020, the date of application of the Regulation. However, so far, the Commission’s response has been that the current deadline is “realistic and achievable” and that there were no plans to delay implementation.

This week, as an early Christmas present to industry, while there is no delay to the data of application of the MDR, there is some good news: a “corrigendum”, or correction, to the MDR, has been approved by the Parliament that adds certain Class I devices to those devices that benefit from the transitional period under the MDR. This will give manufacturers of certain Class I devices additional time to comply with the Regulations.Continue Reading Delays to the EU Medical Devices Regulations