EU publishes EN ISO 13485:2012
24/02/2012
The European standard EN ISO 13485:2012
Medical Devices, Quality Management Systems, Requirements for Regulatory
Purposes, has been published, after approval by CEN on 24 January 2012. This
replaces EN ISO 13485: 2003.
It is important to note that the text
of the global standard ISO 13485:2003 is unchanged. Only the foreword and
annexes in the European version have been revised. The revised standard will be
available in the next few weeks.
EN ISO 13485, as the EU harmonised
standard for medical device quality management systems, is an essential tool
allowing medical device manufacturers to prove evidence of compliance to the
European legislation.
During 2011, the European Commission
raised an objection to the harmonisation status and the implied Presumption of
Conformity of a number of European standards including EN ISO 13485. Sweden also
raised a formal objection to the European Commission in February 2011 on the
link between adhering to the standard and compliance to the Directives.
To restore confidence and bring back
the presumption of compliance indicated by the harmonised status of the
standard, it was essential to revise the Annexes ZA, ZB and ZC and add further
details on the link between standards and the three Medical Device Directives
90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC and 98/79/EC. All signs are clear for the new EN ISO
13485:2012 to be harmonised and this will most likely happen by summer 2012.
In its update, Notified Body BSI states that once EN ISO 13485:2012 is harmonised there will be no need for existing BSI customers with ISO 13485 certificates (UKAS accreditation) to undergo an automatic update or re-issue of certification. This is because there is no change in the requirements of the standard.
After the
date of harmonisation, any new BSI ISO 13485 certificates (UKAS accreditation)
issued will specify ISO 13485:2012, and any existing certificates being renewed
or reissued to support changes after this date will be updated at the point of
reissue to also refer to ISO 13485:2012. All BSI ISO 13485 certificates issued
under SCC accreditation (including CMDCAS) will continue to reference ISO
13485:2003 because it is only the European version of the standard that is changing.
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