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PART IU.K.Introductory Provisions Relating to all Medical Devices

Citation and commencementU.K.

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 and shall come into force 13th June 2002.

[F1Expiry of certain provisions in these RegulationsE+W+S

1ZA.  Regulations 19B, 19C, 30A, 44ZA and 44ZB cease to have effect at 23:59 on 30th June 2023.

Textual Amendments

SchedulesE+W+S

1A.  Schedules 2 and 2A have effect.]

Textual Amendments

InterpretationE+W+S

2.—(1) [F2Subject to Parts VIII and IX,] in these RegulationsF3...—

[F51(1A) In these Regulations, any reference to Annexes 1 to 7 to Directive 90/385, Annexes I to X to Directive 93/42 or Annex I to X to Directive 98/79 is to be construed as a reference to those Annexes [F52as they applied immediately before IP completion day and as modified by Schedule 2A.]]

[F53(1B) In these Regulations, any reference to Annex 1 to Directive 90/385 or to Annex I to Directive 93/42 is to that Annex read with Regulation (EU) No 207/2012.]

(2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference—

(a)to a numbered regulation, Part or Schedule is to the regulation or Part of, or the Schedule to, these Regulations bearing that number;

(b)in a regulation to a numbered or lettered paragraph is to the paragraph of that regulation bearing that number or letter; and

(c)in a paragraph to a numbered or lettered sub-paragraph is to the sub-paragraph in that paragraph bearing that number or letter.

Extent Information

E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) In these RegulationsF74...—

[F108(1A) In these Regulations, any reference to Annexes 1 to 7 to Directive 90/385, Annexes I to X to Directive 93/42 or Annex I to X to Directive 98/79 is to be construed as a reference to those Annexes as amended from time to time.]

[F109(1B) In these Regulations, any reference to Annex 1 to Directive 90/385 or to Annex I to Directive 93/42 is to that Annex read with Regulation (EU) No 207/2012.]

(2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference—

(a)to a numbered regulation, Part or Schedule is to the regulation or Part of, or the Schedule to, these Regulations bearing that number;

(b)in a regulation to a numbered or lettered paragraph is to the paragraph of that regulation bearing that number or letter; and

(c)in a paragraph to a numbered or lettered sub-paragraph is to the sub-paragraph in that paragraph bearing that number or letter.

Extent Information

E3This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F76Words in reg. 2 substituted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(a)

F82OJ No. L 311, 28.11.2001, p.67.

F88Word in reg. 2 omitted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by virtue of The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(b)

F91OJ No. L 204, 21.7.1998, p.37; amended by Directive 98/48/EC (OJ No. L 217, 5.8.1998, p.18).

F95Words in reg. 2 substituted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(c)

F100Words in reg. 2 substituted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(d)

F103Words in reg. 2 substituted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(e)

F104Words in reg. 2 substituted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(f)

F106Words in reg. 2 inserted (N.I.) (31.12.2020 immediately before IP completion day) by The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1478), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(g)

[F54Medical devices which are qualifying Northern Ireland goodsE+W+S

2A.—(1) Notwithstanding the effect of regulations 19B, 19C, 30A, 44ZA and 44ZB and the expiry of the period during which those regulations apply by virtue of regulation 1ZA, any medical device—

(a)which meets the requirements of these Regulations as they apply in Northern Ireland; and

(b)which is a qualifying Northern Ireland good,

may be placed on the Great Britain market as if it meets the requirements of these Regulations as they apply in Great Britain.

(2) In this regulation, “qualifying Northern Ireland good” has the meaning given in regulations made under section 8C(6) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.]

Textual Amendments

Scope of these RegulationsE+W+S

3.  These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a)medicinal products governed by [F55the Human Medicines Regulations 2012] (including medicinal products derived from human blood or human plasma F56...);

(b)human blood, human blood products, plasma or blood cells of human origin;

(c)devices that incorporate, at the time of placing on the market, human blood, blood products, plasma or blood cells of human origin, except for [F57—

(i)stable derivatives devices,

(ii)active implantable medical devices and accessories to such devices, and

(iii)in vitro diagnostic medical devices and accessories to such devices,];

(d)transplants or tissues or cells of human origin or products incorporating or derived from tissues or cells of human origin [F58, except for F59..., in vitro diagnostic medical devices and accessories to such devices] [F60save where medicinal products are incorporated as ancillary to the device];

[F61(e)transplants or tissues or cells of animal origin, unless—

(i)a device is manufactured utilising animal tissue which is rendered non-viable or non-viable products derived from animal tissue, or

(ii)a product is F62... an in vitro diagnostic medical device, or an accessory to such a device;]

(f)cosmetic products governed by [F63Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30th November 2009 on cosmetic products;] or

F64(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E2This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

Scope of these RegulationsN.I.

3.  These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a)medicinal products governed by Directive 2001/83 (including medicinal products derived from human blood or human plasma governed by Title X of Directive 2001/83);

(b)human blood, human blood products, plasma or blood cells of human origin;

(c)devices that incorporate, at the time of placing on the market, human blood, blood products, plasma or blood cells of human origin, except for [F110—

(i)stable derivatives devices,

(ii)active implantable medical devices and accessories to such devices, and

(iii)in vitro diagnostic medical devices and accessories to such devices,];

(d)transplants or tissues or cells of human origin or products incorporating or derived from tissues or cells of human origin [F111, except for F112..., in vitro diagnostic medical devices and accessories to such devices] [F113save where medicinal products are incorporated as ancillary to the device];

[F114(e)transplants or tissues or cells of animal origin, unless—

(i)a device is manufactured utilising animal tissue which is rendered non-viable or non-viable products derived from animal tissue, or

(ii)a product is F115... an in vitro diagnostic medical device, or an accessory to such a device;]

(f)cosmetic products governed by Council Directive 76/768/EEC F116, as amended F117; or

F118(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extent Information

E4This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F116OJ No. L 262, 27.9.1976, p.169.

F117Council Directive 76/768/EEC was amended for the twenty-sixth time by Commission Directive 2000/41/EC (OJ No. L 145, 20.6.2000, p.25).

[F65Designated standardE+W+S

3A.—(1)  In Parts II, III and IV of these Regulations, a “designated standard” means—

(a)a technical specification which is—

(i)adopted by a recognised standardisation body [F66or an international standardising body], for repeated or continuous application with which compliance is not compulsory; and

(ii)designated by the Secretary of State by publishing a reference to the standard and maintaining that publication in a manner the Secretary of State considers appropriate; or

(b)a monograph of the European Pharmacopoeia (in particular on surgical sutures and on the interaction between medicinal products and materials used in devices containing medicinal products) which has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “technical specification” means a document which prescribes technical requirements to be fulfilled by a device, process, service or system (“the product”) and which lays down—

(a)the characteristics required of a product, including levels of quality, performance, interoperability, environmental protection, health and safety and dimensions;

(b)the requirements applicable to the product as regards the name under which the product is sold, terminology, symbols, testing and test methods, packaging, marking or labelling and conformity assessment procedures; and

(c)the production methods and processes relating to the product, where these have an effect on its characteristics.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation a “recognised standardisation body” means any one of the following organisations—

(a)the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN);

(b)the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC);

(c)the British Standards Institute (BSI).

[F67(3A) In this regulation “international standardising body” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, part of Annex 1A to the agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation signed at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (as modified from time to time).]

(4) When considering whether the manner of publication of a reference is appropriate in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), the Secretary of State must have regard to whether the publication will draw the standard to the attention of any person who may have an interest in the standard.

(5) Before publishing the reference to a standard in relation to a technical specification which has been adopted by BSI, the Secretary of State must have regard to whether the technical specification is consistent with [F68such] technical specifications adopted by the other recognised standardisation bodies [F69or by international standardising bodies as the Secretary of State considers to be relevant.]

(6) The Secretary of State may remove from publication the reference to a standard which has been published in accordance with paragraph (1)(b).

(7) Where the Secretary of State removes the reference to a standard from publication, that standard is no longer a designated standard.

(8)  In this regulation—

(a)a reference to a “device” is a reference to a medical device or its accessory or an in vitro diagnostic medical device or its accessory to which these Regulations apply;

(b)a reference to “the European Pharmacopoeia” is a reference to the European Pharmacopoeia adopted in accordance with the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia.

Textual Amendments

ConfidentialityE+W+S

3B.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), and unless otherwise provided for in these Regulations, all parties involved in the application of these Regulations must respect the confidentiality of information and data obtained in carrying out their tasks in order to protect the following—

(a)personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018;

(b)commercially confidential information, trade secrets of a person, including intellectual property rights (unless disclosure is in the public interest);

(c)the effective operation of these Regulations, in particular for the purposes of inspections, investigations or audits.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not affect—

(a)the rights and obligations of the Secretary of State, manufacturers, persons placing products on the market, UK responsible persons, importers, distributors and approved bodies with regard to the exchange of information and the dissemination of warnings;

(b)obligations to disclose information under the criminal law.]

Textual Amendments

Transitional provisionsU.K.

4.—(1) Part II shall not be applied before 1st July 2004 in respect of a device which has been subjected to EEC pattern approval before 1st January 1995 in accordance with the Clinical Thermometers (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1993 M1.

(2) Part II shall not be applied—

(a)before 10th January 2007 in respect of a stable derivatives device placed on the market without a CE marking, if the device satisfies the requirements of the laws of that part of the United Kingdom in which it is placed on the market as in force on 10th January 2002; or

(b)before 10th January 2009 in respect of a stable derivatives device put into service without a CE marking, if the device satisfies the requirements of the laws of that part of the United Kingdom in which it is placed on the market as in force on 10th January 2002.

(3) Part IV shall not be applied before 7th December 2003 in respect of a device placed on the market which is—

(a)anin vitro diagnostic medical device without a CE marking; or

(b)a device for performance evaluation and the manufacturer or his authorised representative does not indicate, directly or indirectly, that it is a device which is subject to the provisions of these Regulations,

if the device satisfies the requirements of the laws of that part of the United Kingdom in which it is placed on the market as in force on 7th December 1998.

(4) Part IV shall not be applied before 7th December 2005 in respect of a device put into service which is—

(a)anin vitro diagnostic medical device without a CE marking; or

(b)a device for performance evaluation and the manufacturer or his authorised representative does not indicate, directly or indirectly, that it is a device which is subject to the provisions of these Regulations,

if the device satisfies the requirements of the laws of that part of the United Kingdom in which it is put into service as in force on 7th December 1998.

[F70(5) Regulation 13(4) shall not be applied before 1st March 2004 in respect of breast implants which—

(a)bore a CE marking before 1st September 2003; and

(b)satisfy the requirements in respect of relevant devices falling within Class IIb set out in regulation 13(3).]

[F71(6) Regulation 19A shall not be applied before 1st October 2004 in respect of a device placed on the market before 1st April 2004.]

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

[F72Transitional provisions for hip, knee and shoulder replacementsU.K.

4A.—(1) This regulation applies to hip, knee or shoulder replacements.

(2) Regulation 13(4) shall not apply in respect of a replacement—

(a)whose manufacturer or his authorised representative has before 1st September 2007—

(i)fulfilled the applicable obligations imposed by Annex II, excluding Section 4 of that Annex,

(ii)declared, in accordance with a declaration of conformity procedure set out in that Annex, that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it, and

(iii)ensured that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it; and

(b)in respect of which an examination under Section 4 of Annex II has been carried out and an EC design-examination certificate under that Section has been issued before 1st September 2009.

(3) Regulation 13(4) shall not apply before 1st September 2009 in respect of a replacement—

(a)whose manufacturer or his authorised representative has—

(i)fulfilled the applicable obligations imposed by Annex II, excluding Section 4 of that Annex,

(ii)declared, in accordance with a declaration of conformity procedure set out in that Annex, that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it, and

(iii)ensured that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it; and

(b)which is covered by the decision of a notified body issued in accordance with Section 3.3 or 3.4 of Annex II before 1st September 2007.

(4) Regulation 13(4) shall not apply before 1st September 2010 in respect of replacement—

(a)whose manufacturer or his authorised representative has—

(i)fulfilled the applicable obligations imposed by Annex III together with Annex VI,

(ii)declared, in accordance with a declaration of conformity procedure set out in those Annexes, that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it, and

(iii)ensured that the device meets the provisions of Directive 93/42 which apply to it; and

(b)which is covered by the decision of a notified body issued in accordance with Section 3.3 or 3.4 of Annex VI before 1st September 2007.

(5) Regulation 13(4) shall not apply in respect of a replacement which—

(a)satisfies the conditions set out in paragraph (4)(a) and (b);

(b)has been placed on the market before 1st September 2010; and

(b)is put into service on or after that date.]

Textual Amendments

[F73Revocations, transitional and saving provisions in respect of the new national registration requirementsE+W+S

4D.—(1) Regulation 19 is revoked on the day that is 4 months after IP completion day (which is when regulation 7A comes into force).

(2) Regulation 7A does not apply until the day that is 8 months after IP completion day in respect of a device or accessory—

(a) that is a relevant device for the purposes of Part II; and

(b)that is classified as belonging to—

(i)Class IIa, as referred to in regulation 7, or

(ii)Class IIb, as referred to in regulation 7, and is also a Group A device (within the meaning given in regulation 52(1)).

(3) Regulation 7A does not apply until the day that is 12 months after IP completion day in respect of a device or accessory—

(a) that is a relevant device for the purposes of Part II; and

(b)that is classified as belonging to Class I, as referred to in regulation 7.

(4) Where regulation 7A does not apply in respect of a device or accessory by virtue of paragraph (2) or (3), regulation 19 continues to have effect after its revocation in respect of that device or accessory.

(6) Regulation 30(3) is revoked on the day that is 4 months after IP completion day (which is when regulation 21A comes into force).

(8) Regulation 44 is revoked on the day that is 4 months after IP completion day (which is when regulation 33A comes into force).

(9) Regulation 33A does not apply until the day that is 8 months after IP completion day in respect of a device or accessory—

(a) that is a relevant device for the purposes of Part IV, or

(b)that is—

(i)referred to in List B, mentioned in regulation 40(4), or

(ii)a device for self-testing (as defined in relation 32(1)).

(10)  Regulation 33A does not apply until the day that is 12 months after IP completion day in respect of a device or accessory that is a relevant device for the purposes of Part IV which follows the procedure in regulation 40(1).

(11) Where regulation 33A does not apply in respect of a device or accessory by virtue of paragraph (9), regulation 44 continues to have effect after its revocation in respect of that device or accessory.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Commission Decision 2002/364 on 26th May 2025 and its effect before that dateE+W+S

4H.—(1) Commission Decision 2002/364/EC of 7 May 2002 on the common specifications for in vitro diagnostic medical devices (“the Decision”) (insofar as it is retained EU law) is revoked on 26th May 2025.

(2) Pending its revocation, the Decision has effect as it had effect immediately before IP completion day.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Commission Decision 2010/227E+W+S

4I.  Commission Decision 2010/227/EU of 19 April 2010 on the European Databank on Medical Devices (Eudamed) is revoked.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) No 207/2012 on 26th May 2025 and its effect before that dateE+W+S

4J.—(1) Except as provided for in this regulation, pending its revocation by the European Commission, Regulation (EU) No 207/2012 has effect as it had effect immediately before exit day.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) No 722/2012 on 26th May 2025 and its effect before that dateE+W+S

4K.—(1) Except as provided for in this regulation, pending its revocation by the European Commission, Regulation (EU) No 722/2012 has effect as it had effect immediately before exit day.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) No 920/2013 on 26th May 2025 and its effect before that dateE+W+S

4L.—(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 920/2013 of 24 September 2013 on the designation and the supervision of notified bodies under Council Directive 90/385/EEC on active implantable medical devices and Council Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices (“Regulation (EU) No 920/2013”) (insofar as it is retained EU law) is revoked on 26th May 2025.

(4) Before 26th May 2025, Regulation (EU) No 920/2013 only applies as regards the functions of the Secretary of State as a designating authority for the purpose of that Regulation, to the extent necessary for the fulfilment by the Secretary of State of the Secretary of State's obligations as regards the supervision of approved bodies.

(5) Paragraph (4) only applies in respect of the functions of the Secretary of State—

(a)which allow for or require the exchange of information with designating authorities in the European Union or with the European Commission; and

(b)insofar as there are in place reciprocal arrangements with the EU, an EU entity, a member State or a public authority in a member State that allow for or require that exchange.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) No 2017/2185 and saving provisionE+W+S

4M.—(1) Insofar as it is retained EU law, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2185 of 23 November 2017 on the list of codes and corresponding types of devices for the purpose of specifying the scope of the designation as notified bodies in the field of medical devices under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council and in vitro diagnostic medical devices under Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council (“Regulation (EU) No 2017/2185”) is revoked.

Textual Amendments

The classification criteria in Directives 2003/12 and 2005/50E+W+S

4N.   Where regulation 7 applies for the purposes of regulation 4D(2)(b) or (3)(b), Directives 2003/12 and 2005/50 apply with the following modifications—

(a)in the case of Directive 2013/12, as if Articles 2 to 4 were omitted; and

(b)in the case of Directive 2005/50, as if Articles 3 to 6 were omitted.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) 2017/745E+W+S

4O.—(1) Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (“the Medical Devices Regulation”) (insofar as it is retained EU law) is revoked.

Textual Amendments

Revocation of Regulation (EU) 2017/746E+W+S

4P.—(1) Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices and repealing Directive 98/79/EC and Commission Decision 2010/227/EU (“the in vitro diagnostic medical devices Regulation”) (insofar as it is retained EU law) is revoked.

Textual Amendments

References in other legislation to Directives 90/385, 93/42 and 98/79E+W+S

4T.—(1) In section 1(12)(a) of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (authorisation of activities for scheduled purposes), the references to Directive 98/79 are to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that section, as references also or instead to Part IV.

(2) In regulation 10(5) of the Medicines (Products for Human Use) (Fees) Regulations 2016 (fee for advice for other purposes)—

(a)the reference to the expression “medical device” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(a) of Directive 93/42 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as a reference also or instead to having the meaning given in regulation 2; and

(b)the reference to paragraph 5 of Annex III to Directive 93/42 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as a reference also or instead to Schedule 11.

(3) In Schedule 1 to the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (excluded pressure equipment and assemblies), the reference in paragraph 1(f)(iv) to not being covered by Directive 93/42 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that provision, as a reference also or instead to not being covered by Part II.

(4) In regulation 2 of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (interpretation)—

(a)the reference to the expression “active implantable medical device” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(c) of Directive 90/385 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as a reference also or instead to it having the meaning given in regulation 2 or in accordance with Schedule 9;

(b)the reference to the expression “medical device” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(a) of Directive 93/42 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as a reference to it also or instead having the meaning given to it in regulation 2;

(c)the reference to the expression “accessory” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(b) of Directive 93/42 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as also or instead having the meaning given to “accessory” in regulation 5;

(d)the reference to the expression “in vitro diagnostic medical device” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(b) of Directive 98/79 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as having the meaning given to it in regulation 2;

(e)the reference to the expression “accessory” having the meaning given in Article 1(2)(c) of Directive 98/79 is to be construed, to the extent necessary for the practical application of that definition, as also or instead having the meaning given to “accessory” in regulation 32.

(5) These Regulations are an enactment implementing a relevant Community Directive for the purposes of regulation 4 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (provision of personal protective equipment).

(6) These Regulations are also an enactment implementing a relevant Community Directive for the purposes of regulation 4(5)(a) of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (provision of personal protective equipment).]

Textual Amendments