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Medical Devices Law (no longer valid)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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EUDAMED is the European database for medical devices. However, it is not only used to manage medical devices. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) relies on EUDAMED and determines which requirements must be stored in this database. These regulations affect the work of manufacturers and also the work of authorities and notified bodies. 1. Which purpose…
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A design change is a change in the design of a product. It is important to understand what regulatory implications arise from this and where there may be an impact on the validity of the product’s declaration of conformity. This article provides an overview and thus resolves many currently common misconceptions. 1. Design change: What it means…
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PMCF studies are studies that manufacturers use as part of Post-Market Clinical Follow-up (PMCF) to continuously demonstrate compliance of their medical devices. Manufacturers do not always need to conduct studies to meet PMCF requirements. And not all types of PMCF studies are subject to MDR requirements. This article compactly summarizes the regulatory requirements in the…
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As part of its “Vision 2030,” Saudi Arabia is planning to expand its healthcare infrastructure. Does this offer medical device manufacturers interesting growth opportunities? And with increased approval requirements, is the effort for approval worth it? Find out in this article how to approval in Saudi Arabia. 1. An interesting market for medical device manufacturers?…
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Medical device manufacturers have high expectations of Regulatory Information Management Systems (RIMS). The costs and efforts involved are immense and usually much higher than expected. The benefits, on the other hand, are not clear. This article will give you some hints, 1. Definition: RIMS 2. Goals of RIMS Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers expect several…
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The EU regulations the MDR and IVDR set out precise requirements for importers. And they also define who is an importer. Bringing a device into the EU does not always constitute an import. And, furthermore, companies that import medical devices don’t just have to meet the requirements established for importers. 1. What is an importer?…
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Many companies consider Regulatory Intelligence so important that they create their own roles and departments for it. This article clarifies what Regulatory Intelligence is, how companies can benefit from it, and where tools can provide support. 1. What is “Regulatory Intelligence”? This includes gathering and analyzing regulatory information from various sources, including regulatory agencies, industry…
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The EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) regulates not only medical devices but also devices without an intended medical purpose, e.g., liposuction devices, breast implants, and colored contact lenses. In December 2022 – four and a half years after the MDR was published – the EU regulated the necessary details with two Commission Implementing Regulations (2022/2346 and…
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Trend analysis is a legal obligation of all medical device manufacturers, especially in “Post-Market Surveillance.” Manufacturers must not fail in the selection and application of suitable statistical methods for trend analysis. This is because the focus of authorities and notified bodies is increasingly shifting to monitoring post-market activities. This article provides a quick introduction to this…
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Switzerland is important both as a manufacturing location and as a market for medical device manufacturers who are based outside Switzerland. However, since May 26, 2021 (for medical devices) and May 26, 2022 (for in vitro diagnostic devices | IVD medical devices), manufacturers from Switzerland as well as manufacturers from other markets (e.g., the EU)…
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