The “regulatory affairs” section comprises over 200 tasks that need to be completed during the development and approval of medical devices.
Here, you will find an overview of the most essential content so that you can get your device approved quickly.
Content
On this page, you will find articles on the following topics:
- What regulatory affairs is
- Regulatory requirements
- Authorization and documentation
- Authorities, institutions, and associations
- Further topics of regulatory affairs
1. What regulatory affairs is
Regulatory affairs comprises the processes and activities that ensure that medical devices meet the regulatory requirements of the countries where they are sold. This includes
- obtaining the necessary approvals from the regulatory authorities,
- compliance with applicable regulations and standards, and
- maintaining conformity throughout the entire product life cycle until decommissioning.
The tasks of regulatory affairs also include monitoring changes to regulations and standards and communicating these changes to stakeholders within the company to ensure continuous compliance.
Regulatory affairs thus plays a crucial role in ensuring that medical devices are safe, effective, and comply with legal requirements.
Further information
Refer also to the article on regulatory affairs managers’ tasks, competencies, and earning potential. This includes the task of developing a regulatory strategy.
2. Regulatory requirements
a) Germany
Laws |
Medical Devices Law (no longer valid)
Medical Devices Implementation Act MPDG |
National regulations |
Medical Device Operator Ordinance (Medizinprodukte-Betreiberverordnung – MPBetreibV)
Medical Device User Notification and Information Ordinance (Medizinprodukte-Anwendermelde- und Informationsverordnung – MPAMIV) |
b) Europe
c) USA
d) Other markets
3. Approval and documentation
a) Approval
Find more information on international approval
b) Qualification and classification (How should my device be classified?)
c) Technical documentation (What do I need to document for each device?)
d) Quality management (What should your company fulfill?)
Quality management is not usually the responsibility of regulatory affairs. Nevertheless, we have listed some important articles for you.
4. Authorities, institutions, and associations
a) Germany
b) Europe
c) International
IMDRF: International Medical Device Regulators Forum |
5. Regulatory affairs: Further topics
Here, you will find an article on the tasks and competencies of regulatory affairs managers.
Note the advantages and disadvantages of Regulatory Information Management Systems (RIMS) and their role in manufacturers’ digital transformation.
Part of the tasks of regulatory affairs is regulatory intelligence.
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In Article 120, the MDR establishes its transitional provisions, including the transition periods. However, the descriptions of these transitional provisions and transition periods are worded in a very complex manner. As a result, manufacturers are at risk of misunderstanding them and therefore not complying with regulatory requirements or incurring unnecessary costs. A flow chart in chapter 2 of this article…
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This article will help you ensure that you will still be able to offer in-house IVD (also called Laboratory Developed Tests, LDTs) under the IVDR and will explain the three options open to you avoiding legal disputes. In-house IVD are a type of in vitro diagnostic test. But do regulatory requirements such as the IVDR also…
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An FDA registration is a legally required registration of “establishments” (such as medical device manufacturers) in an FDA database. The FDA registration should not be confused with the UDI registration in the GUDID database or even an FDA approval. This article answers the most important questions and helps to avoid the most common mistakes in FDA registrations.…
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Most manufacturers use harmonized standards to demonstrate the conformity of their devices with the general safety and performance requirements. This also applies to medical device manufacturers, for example. 1. Standards and harmonized standards a) Definitions and more EU Regulation 1025/2012 defines the term harmonized standard. Standards are documents written by national or international standardization commissions…
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Clinical affairs managers play an essential role in demonstrating the safety, performance, and benefits of a medical device. They operate at the interface between science and regulation. This article sheds light on the multifaceted role of these experts: tasks and challenges, as well as earning and career opportunities. 1. Tasks of clinical affairs managers Clinical…
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Document control is a documented procedure that specifies how documents are created, reviewed, approved, labeled, distributed, and updated. Organizations certified according to ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 are obliged to document control. 1. Subject matter of document control It is obvious that document control is about documents. What is less obvious is what documents are.…
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PDMS stands for patient data management system. These clinical information systems are typically used in hospitals, especially in departments that treat patients in intensive care. PMDS are experiencing a new boom in Germany as a result of the funding provided by the Hospital Future Act (Krankenhaus-Zukunftsgesetz, KHZG). This article provides 1. PMDS: Functionalities and requirements Patient data management systems (PDMS)…
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Companies need to master the digital transformation quickly and successfully. This also applies to medical device manufacturers because, after all, their future depends on it. Many companies make severe mistakes during this transformation (see section 4). This article provides managers with a quick overview of the possibilities of digital transformation and gives seven tips to make it…
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This article outlines the five most common misconceptions and mistakes medical device manufacturers should avoid during clinical evaluation and how to avoid them. The five most common misconceptions Misconception 1: A class I device does not require a clinical evaluation This is wrong. All medical devices must meet the essential requirements of the MDR (formerly…
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Medical device manufacturers are obliged to systematically collect and evaluate clinical data, both before and after the approval of their products. The EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) has increased the requirements for the scope and quality of the required clinical data. This article provides you with an overview of the regulatory requirements and gives tips…
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