Representation
Can medical devices that have undergone a positive Conformity Assessment be removed from the market by the Competent Authorities? Role of the Authorized Representative before the Member State Competent Authorities and before the European Commission.
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/42/EEC
Article 8
Safeguard clause
1. Where a Member State ascertains that the devices referred to in Article 4 (1) and (2) second indent, when correctly installed, maintained and used for their intended purpose, may compromise the health and/or safety of patients, users or, where applicable, other persons, it shall take all appropriate interim measures to withdraw such devices from the market or prohibit or restrict their being placed on the market or put into service.
The Member State shall immediately inform the Commission of any such measures, indicating the reasons for its decision and, in particular, whether non-compliance with this Directive is due to:
(a) failure to meet the essential requirements referred to in Article 3;
(b) incorrect application of the standards referred to in Article 5, in so far as it is claimed that the standards have been applied;
(c) shortcomings in the standards themselves.
2. The Commission shall enter into consultation with the Parties concerned as soon as possible. Where, after such consultation, the Commission finds that:
(a) the measures are justified:
(i) it shall immediately so inform the Member State which took the measures and the other Member States. Where the decision referred to in paragraph 1 is attributed to shortcomings in the standards, the Commission shall, after consulting the Parties concerned, bring the matter before the Committee referred to in Article 6(1) within two months if the Member State which has taken the decision intends to maintain it and shall initiate the advisory procedure referred to in Article 6(2);
(ii) when necessary in the interests of public health, appropriate measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive relating to withdrawal from the market of devices referred to in paragraph 1 or to prohibition or restriction of their placement on the market or being put into service or to introduction of particular requirements in order for such products to be put on the market, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 7(3). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may use the urgency procedure referred to in Article 7(4);
(b) the measures are unjustified, it shall immediately so inform the Member State which took the measures and the manufacturer or his authorised representative.
3. Where a non-complying device bears the CE marking, the competent Member State shall take appropriate action against whomsoever has affixed the mark and shall inform the Commission and the other Member States thereof.
4. The Commission shall ensure that the Member States are kept informed of the progress and outcome of this procedure.
Article 14b
Particular health monitoring measures
Where a Member State considers, in relation to a given product or group of products, that, in order to ensure protection of health and safety and/or to ensure that public health requirements are observed, such products should be withdrawn from the market, or their placing on the market and putting into service should be prohibited, restricted or subjected to particular requirements, it may take any necessary and justified transitional measures.
The Member State shall then inform the Commission and all other Member States, giving the reasons for its decision.
The Commission shall, whenever possible, consult the interested Parties and the Member States.
The Commission shall adopt its opinion, indicating whether the national measures are justified or not. The Commission shall inform all the Member States and the consulted interested Parties thereof.
When appropriate, the necessary measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, relating to withdrawal from the market, prohibition of placing on the market and putting into service of a certain product or group of products or to restrictions or introduction of particular requirements in order for such products to be put on the market, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 7(3). On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may use the urgency procedure referred to in Article 7(4).
Article 19
Decision in respect of refusal or restriction
1. Any decision taken pursuant to this Directive:
(a) to refuse or restrict the placing on the market or the putting into service of a device or the carrying out of clinical investigations; or
(b) to withdraw devices from the market,
shall state the exact grounds on which it is based. Such decisions shall be notified without delay to the party concerned, who shall at the same time be informed of the remedies available to him under the national law in force in the Member State in question and of the time limits to which such remedies are subject.
2. In the event of a decision as referred to in paragraph 1, the manufacturer, or his authorized representative, shall have an opportunity to put forward his viewpoint in advance, unless such consultation is not possible because of the urgency of the measure to be taken.