Medical Devices

On 01.04.2019, the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration - former NMPA) announced a change in the clinical trial approval process for medical devices (NMPA No. 2019-26). If the applicant has not received any feedback within 60 working days from the date of clinical trial approval application, clinical trials can be carried out. Instead of an approval notification, the NMPA’s website will display the approval number, the applicant's name and address, as well as the name, the model specification, structure and composition of the medical device.

On 13.03.2019, the SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation) released new review measures for advertisements for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, health foods, and food for special medical purpose. The draft is open to public comments.

In the article A fortunate opportunity? Navigating Chinese regulation challenges to ensure success Anna Fischer from Cisema Hong Kong sets out the key challenges that foreign manufacturers of medical devices face in obtaining approval for and access to the Chinese market. Read the article on MedTech ENGINE.

On 14.08.2018, the SAMR defined the 8th batch of Drug - Medical Device Combination Products in their announcement No. 218-2018. When applicants are unsure, whether a product is categorized as a medical device or drug, a classification application can be submitted to the SAMR for verification.

On 01.08.2018, the SDA published the interpretation for the new Medical Device catalogue, which contains some changes regarding classifications. Some Class II products have been upgraded to Class III and some Class III products shall be considered as Class II.

As mentioned in our March/April news: On 13.03.2018, during the 13th National People's Congress, China’s cabinet decided for the SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation) to supervise the - NMPA (China Food and Drug Administration), - AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine), and- SAIC (State Administration for Industry and Commerce).The “3 stipulation scheme” published in August by the State Council details the staffing, administrative structure and functions of the SAMR.

On 27.09.2018, the NMPA published two Medical Device Regulation Indices (1998-2013) (NMPA WeChat announcement Nr.37. 2018). The first Index includes 114 still valid regulatory documents, covering classifications of specific devices, regulations for non-medical devices, technical guidelines, industry standards, GMPs and post-market penalties. The second Index includes 119 regulatory documents, which are no longer valid.

On 08.10.2018, the CMDE released new guidelines for the technical review of the sterilization processes of sterile medical devices for public comments. It includes requirements for the preparation of relevant documents as part of the registration of sterile medical devices.

On 30.09.2018, the NMPA published a revised “Clinical Trial Exemption List for Medical Devices and IVDs”, which was immediately implemented (NMPA No. 94-2018). 63 Class II and 21 Class III medical devices, 246 Class II and 31 Class III IVDs were added. The new clinic trial exemption list now contains a total of 855 medical devices and 393 IVDs.

On 07.09.2018, the CDME added two new functions based on the original online reservation consultation platform for medical devices in review, one is for innovation/priority approval medical device, and the other for clinical trial approval.

On 13.08.2018, the Chinese NMPA released the “Measures for Monitoring and Reassessing Adverse Events of Medical Devices” (NMPA Decree No. 1), which will take effect on 01.01.2019. The main purpose of this new regulation is to strengthen the post-marketing supervisions, such as monitoring of medical device adverse events and re-evaluation of the approved medical devices. It also clarifies the responsibilities of NMPA Legal Agents and medical device manufacturers. According to the new regulation, the manufacturer shall conduct continuous research on the medical devices that are already approved in order to evaluate risks and monitor adverse events. The regulation also lists penalties in case the manufacturer fails to comply with the regulation.