EU MDR postponement: 5 things you need to know

These new MDR changes are likely to impact the way medical device manufacturers operate. As well as that it will also increase their compliance costs and significantly alter their change management processes. 

Here are 5 things you should know about the MDR changes before they come into place: 

1. The revised deadline for the new MDR is the 26th May 2021 

On the 25th May 2017, the EU MDR formal publication was entered into force replacing the following existing directives: 
 
• Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMD) 
• In-vitro Diagnostic Directive (IVDD) 
• Medical Device Directive (MDD). 

This was the start of a three-year EU MDR transition period for organisations to comply with the new requirements. Until the 25th May 2021, certificates under MDD are still valid but all devices placed on the market from this date must conform to the new MDR. 
 
2. Placing a product on the medical device market may take longer 

The MDD was 60 pages long whereas the new MDR document has 174 pages filled with 123 articles across 10 chapters, with 17 annexes – so it would be fair to say that MDR is much more detailed than its predecessor. The Medical Device Regulation changes bring with it increased pre-market scrutiny involving assessments and validation from notified bodies. Moreover, all products will have to be CE marked under the new regulation 2017/745. This means that placing and keeping a medical device on the European market may take longer than it previously did. 
 
3. There will be changes which will affect notified bodies and competent authorities 

With MDR, notified bodies will have increased responsibility for the assessment and certification of medical devices. They will face heightened scrutiny from competent authorities and notified bodies will also be required to consult with the European Commission on their clinical evaluation and post-market follow-up plans. These changes within the requirement of notified bodies will ultimately change the way they interact with manufacturers. Unannounced audits of manufacturers are likely to increase, and audit schedules will have to be provided to national authorities ahead of time. 
 
4. All medical devices need to be re-assessed for compliance and certification 

Under the new MDR, medical devices need to comply with requirements and certifications so it is likely they will have to be re-assessed. Based on the increased scrutiny on risks and safety within the regulation, some manufacturers will have to reclassify and/or recertify their products after the re-assessment. In terms of new products, there might be a requirement to carry out clinical investigations, collecting post-market data. Essentially, the MDR calls for medical device manufacturers to implement these re-assessments and recertifications in a timely manner so they can continue to operate in the EU market. 
 
5. There will be an emphasis on post-market surveillance 

The new regulations will include a heightened prominence on post-market surveillance. The need for medical device organisations to actively monitor the performance of their devices on the market for recertification will be greater than ever before. The post-market surveillance will also increase the recurrence of performance and safety reporting, which might necessitate the need for additional resources for organisations. Although this requirement will be more time-consuming under MDR, it will help medical device organisations to notice potential issues sooner – and addressing them earlier in the production cycle could reduce the manufacturer's liability and protect patients. 

One of the reasons that the EU MDR was postponed, is that organisations simply weren’t prepared. The standard stipulates that medical device manufacturers must have a quality management system in place to manage compliance, quality and risk activities. It takes time to implement and roll out a new system, so it’s vital to start making these changes now in order to be compliant when the deadline arrives. 

Access your free toolkit today to help support you with the EU MDR postponement and ensure a smooth transition from MDD to MDR.