Global Medical Device Regulatory Trends: Traceability, Simplified Market Access
July 31, 2018
By Neozene

In the past half year (January through June 2018), Emergo has observed data to support two global trends: Initiatives to enhance device tracking and traceability, and simplification of the regulatory process for the lowest-risk medical devices.

Periodically, we review all the global regulatory updates and changes for global trends. These are Emergo’s observations, fueled only by review of regulatory current events (and perhaps a few large cups of coffee). And, our analysis and assessment of them. We should also acknowledge that the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) has been working diligently to foster harmonization among medical device regulators.

Global Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS): Device traceability and tracking

As we all appreciate, globally there is an emphasis on collection of total product lifecycle data, and on digital and regulatory initiatives that facilitate data collection on explicit devices supplied to the market. These efforts include adoption of a global naming convention. This issue itself could be the topic of a dissertation.

Progress seems to be made to advance the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) system as the global system (signaling success of the IMDRF and the GMDN Codes as part of global harmonization), even with a subscription required to access the codes. There has been much development the past six months.

In the GUDID, the FDA included the text descriptors of the GMDN Codes, though not the actual numbers. The European MDR had previously referred to GMDN Codes in their draft legislation, though this was removed upon publication of the MDR in May 2017. The Australian TGA has included GMDN Codes in their ARTG listings, though the regulator also accepts template terms for Class I medical devices.

US FDA

The FDA had already exceeded most other regulators with the legislative requirements for UDI and GUDID. However, when GUDID Release 2.3.2 was launched, the FDA catapulted to star status. One of the changes was to include Premarket Approval (PMA) and 510(k) clearance numbers associated with the entries. To Emergo’s knowledge, this is the first time that explicit device models will be systematically associated with 510(k)s. No longer will US market applicants performing regulatory research on their competitors’ devices (or their own devices) wonder about the regulatory path of a particular device—this will now be documented.

EU

The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) (EU) 2017/745, whose May 26, 2020 date of application is now two years closer, promulgates UDI and EUDAMED, the European versions of the US FDA UDI and GUDID. To this end, the EU COMM and MDCG have made progress with both. In line with Article 34(1), the EU COMM has shared the implementation plan for functional specifications of EUDAMED in advance of the database’s May 26, 2018 launch deadline. By April 2018, the EU welcomed both the EUDAMED test sessions for the actor registration module and EU UDI Work Group and MDCG guidance documents on UDI, as well as a future EU medical device nomenclature.

China CFDA

The CFDA (to be renamed the China Drug Administration, or CDA) has released guidance on UDI, based on the US FDA and the IMDRF. Further, recently proposed draft changes to State Order No. 650 state that the CFDA intends to develop a UDI system for the medical device market in China in the future.

Health Canada

Health Canada has announced that they intend to apply GMDN Codes to improve “access to medical devices information.” GMDN Codes will now be part of Medical Device Licenses. As Health Canada stated in their announcement, they are effectively endorsing the IMDRF’s recommendation. Health Canada now joins other regulators in requiring the use of GMDN Codes related to medical devices on their market.

Brazil ANVISA

ANVISA has introduced the National Implant Registry (RNI). The online system will initially collect voluntary registration information on surgical procedures for hip and knee prostheses, and coronary stents. The RNI will eventually be compulsory for all health services in Brazil, and may also be expanded to include other implantable devices. So, yet another regulator-mandated program to collect device data.

Simplification of the regulatory process for the lowest-risk medical devices

Regulators generally develop a regulatory system where requirements are proportionate to the risk of the medical device. The US FDA and the EU regulators advocated regulatory systems where the lowest-risk medical devices have largely depended on a notification system (Class I and Class I self-certified, respectively). There are of course other countries’ regulatory regimes that implement analogous systems as well.

Emergo consultants have observed that some regulators initially promulgate their nascent systems with rigorous requirements for even the lowest-risk medical devices. As experience and confidence in the function of the system waxes, the system evolves. As noted in our examples, the lowest class of medical devices now (or will now) have a significantly simplified regulatory process.

Brazil ANVISA

ANVISA has released Public Consultation No. 528 of 2018 on a proposed regulatory process change for Class I devices (including IVDs) from Cadastro registration to a simple notification. There is a 60-day comment period, and this revision to the regulatory system (Class I simplified notification, Cadastro, Registro) will align with the US FDA’s essentially three-tier system notification: Class I, 510(k), PMA.

Saudi Arabia SFDA

The SFDA added a Medical Device National Register (MDNR) regulatory process in Q4 of 2017, for Class I non-sterile, non-measuring devices. Further to this, there is now SFDA guidance from April 2018 on the MDNR route and the “Direct MDNR medical devices listing path,” which doesn’t require authorization from a GHTF founding member.

Singapore HSA

Major updates to Health Products (Medical Devices) Regulations 2010 (June 2018) (implemented all amendments proposed in February 2018) included exempting all Class A devices (sterile and non-sterile) from registration. Importers are now required to list all Class A devices on the HSA Class A database.

credit: emergogroup