In brief
On 9 July 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/1860 amending the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and the In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key takeaways
In particular, the new Regulation amended the provisions regarding the mandatory use of the European Medical Device Database (EUDAMED) for devices compliant with the MDR and IVDR and for legacy devices, providing for a phased implementation of the modules as they are verified and declared functional.
In addition, the new Regulation introduced a requirement for manufacturers of medical devices, including legacy devices, to notify at least six months in advance of discontinuation or termination if it is reasonably foreseeable that such discontinuation or termination could result in serious harm or risk of serious harm to patients or public health.
With specific regard to the IVDR, the new Regulation extended, under certain conditions, the transitional periods for devices with a certificate or declaration of conformity issued prior to 26 May 2022 under Directive 98/79/EC and placed on the market or put into service after 26 May 2022. This amendment aims at preventing shortages of in-vitro diagnostic medical devices necessary for the proper functioning of health services, while ensuring compliance with current quality and safety requirements.