Hearing implant manufacturer MED-EL has been granted European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification.

On 25th March, the company made an initial announcement on the newly earned certification after making an early commitment to adopt the MDR in 2016. For the last three years, it has worked to transition its devices and quality management system to meet the MDR’s new quality requirements.  

Following a lengthy process to earn the new MDR certification, an internal cross-functional MDR team was established. Guided by senior management and led by regulatory affairs, the project team was divided into key topics, allowing groups of specialist subject matter experts to zero in on details over many months, tasked with performing an analysis of the implications that MDR compliance would have on MED-EL’s products and processes. All of these efforts results in the successful completion of the MDR audit last year. 

Following successful conformity assessment to the new MDR, including an audit of the Quality Management System, MED-EL is also one of the world’s first manufacturers to receive certification for a number of product categories, including medical devices of the highest risk class (Class III), Class III Implantable Custom-Made Devices, and Class I reusable surgical instruments.   

Under the MDR all devices fall into four basic categories (invasive, non-invasive, active and special rules) and are then further segmented into classes. Class III devices (the MDR includes active implantable medical devices) are the highest risk category. 

The EU MDR was scheduled to come into effect in EU Member States from 26th May 2020 but has been delayed by a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The regulation will apply to all manufacturers selling medical devices within Europe. It aims to provide greater protection of public health and safety by setting out far more stringent requirements and obligations.

MED-EL’s corporate director for regulatory affairs, Elizabeth Gfoeller said: “MDR certification is essential to our business and it took an incredible collective effort to ensure that we are compliant so far in advance of the deadline. We committed to becoming an early MDR adopter back in 2016, in order to maintain our leadership in Europe. With MDR certification in place, we can now continue our mission to put an end to hearing loss and provide patients and practitioners with leading-edge solutions that meet these new stringent standards.”