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January 2026 saw significant activity as UK and EU authorities advanced major initiatives affecting the use of AI, digital technologies, data governance, and cybersecurity in healthcare and life sciences. Notable developments include EMA’s and FDA joint principles on the use of AI across the medicinal product lifecycle, the European Commission’s call for evidence on the proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (IVDR), proposals to strengthen the EU Cybersecurity Act, and important data protection interventions. In parallel, UK and EU regulators continued to focus on the safe deployment of digital tools in healthcare, including new Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance on mental health technologies and ongoing work to refine AI governance. These updates, alongside developments in Intellectual Property (IP) and product liability, signal a rapidly evolving regulatory environment that will help to shape digital innovation and compliance expectations throughout 2026.Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest – February 2026

Welcome to the latest installment of Arnold & Porter’s Virtual and Digital Health Digest. This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during December 2025 and early January 2026 from the the United Kingdom, and European Union.Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest – December 2025

Welcome to the latest installment of Arnold & Porter’s Virtual and Digital Health Digest. This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during April and early May 2025 from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.

Cybersecurity is a hot topic in the UK and EU this month. In both, cybersecurity plans are developing, with the European Commission conducting a consultation on the EU Action Plan to strengthen cybersecurity within hospitals and health care providers, and the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill being published, introduced partly because of cyberattacks on UK hospitals. This is clearly an important area for developers of digital products and services, who should watch the progress of these policies closely.Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest – May 2025

Welcome to the latest installment of Arnold & Porter’s Virtual and Digital Health Digest. This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during March and early April 2025 from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.

The biggest change this month is that as of March 25, 2025, the European Health Data Space Regulation (EHDS Regulation) is now in force. This means that, as it is gradually implemented, companies will be able to request access to electronic health data for health care purposes, including for use in scientific research, and may be required to share certain health data that they hold. The implementation of the EHDS Regulation is likely to raise a number of questions, which future European Commission implementing regulations or guidelines may clarify.Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest – April 2025

Welcome to the latest installment of Arnold & Porter’s Virtual and Digital Health Digest. This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during February and early March 2025 from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been the focus this month, with certain aspects of the EU AI Act now in force and key guidance being published by the European Commission. In addition, the much criticized AI Liability Directive has been withdrawn by the European Commission. In the UK, the UK government published its AI Action Plan setting out its proportionate, flexible regulatory approach towards AI, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) hosted an Innovation Showcase demonstrating how it is using digital technologies and AI throughout the regulatory lifecycle. Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest – March 2025

Following the outcome of the national election on 4 July 2024, on 17 July 2024, King Charles III gave a speech to the UK Parliament in which, as directed by the new Government, he outlined the key points of its legislative and policy agenda.

The agenda includes a Product Safety and Metrology Bill.  Some form of legislation to address UK product regulation was expected in order to take account of market developments and new technologies, such as online selling and AI.  We set out below a brief summary of the Bill.Continue Reading The King’s Speech: Product Safety and Metrology Bill

Developments in product liability law are always potentially significant for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers.

On 13 March 2024, the European Parliament adopted new EU consumer protection legislation to repeal and replace the EU Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC, which has been in force for almost 40 years.  Once the new legislation has been approved by the European Council it will become law, and is likely to come into force in around mid-2026. The intention is for EU consumers to have easier access to compensation caused by defective products. 

The International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) on Product Liability Laws and Regulations 2024 is now available, and we have prepared:

Continue Reading Implications of the New EU Product Liability Directive

This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during March.

You will note that the EU institutions have been busy during March. On March 12, 2024, the European Parliament (EP) formally adopted the revised Product Liability Directive, which makes several important changes to the existing European Union (EU) product liability regime, including that software and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will now fall within the scope of a product. On March 13, 2024, the EP formally adopted the Artificial Intelligence Act, meaning the legislative process for the world’s first binding law on AI is nearing its conclusion. Finally, on March 15, 2024, the Council of the European Union and the EP reached a provisional agreement on the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which aims to improve access to health data electronically across the EU. Each of these important legislative provisions should shortly be finalized and will then become law in the EU.Continue Reading Virtual and Digital Health Digest, April 2024