On the 5th of April 2017, two New Regulations concerning medical devices were adopted by the European Parliament. They will replace the current Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC, Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive 90/385/EEC and In-Vitro Diagnostic Directive 98/79/EC.
Newly issued Medical Devices Regulation implements new device identification system based on a Unique Device Identifier (UDI). UDI system was developed in the United States in 2007, and since then, it has been successfully implemented.
As the European Commission acknowledged the success of UDI system in the United States, in 2013 it issued recommendation concerning implementation of the new system also in the EU. Now with the New Medical Devices Regulation coming into force, this implementation is becoming a reality.
What are the advantages of UDI system?
- Improved transparency of the medical device traceability,
- Preventing fraud by the strengthened surveillance of all medical devices on the EU market,
- Public access to medical devices data,
- Reduction of errors and malfunction of the devices entering EU market, what directly improves patients’ safety.
If you wish to know more about the UDI system, please do not hesitate to contact us. Obelis Expert Consultants, having nearly 30 years of experience with EU Regulations, will gladly answer any question you may have and will assist you in safeguarding your products’ compliance.
Szymon Nowak-Rogozinski