We have previously discussed the changes to the regulation of medical devices both in the UK and the European Union in our May 2020 blog post here.  This post provides an update on the UK Medicines and Medical Devices Bill (the UK Bill), post-Brexit transition period guidance in the UK on the regulation of medical … Read more

Design – and its protection – is a priority for the EU and featured in the European Commission’s Intellectual Property Action Plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience, which was published on 25^th November 2020. The European Commission has established that a primary goal will be a revision of European design law, with the ultimate aim of modernising and implementing design protection for the intangible assets that are a “cornerstone of today’s economy”. Read more

Consumer confidence in the origins and safety of the food they purchase and consume is a significant aspect of food brand protection and longevity. Maintaining that confidence involves the use of many different strategies, rights and regulatory controls at national and international level. In Trust on a plate: consumer confidence and food safety, the latest briefing in our Future of Consumer series, contributors Italy, Australia, the UK, China, Indonesia and across the EU cover food trust issues including geographical indications, labelling, supply chain transparency and food crime. Read more

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) took another step closer to coming into being on November 26 with a Bundestag vote passing the legislation necessary for Germany to ratify the UPC Agreement and the Protocol on Provisional Application with (more than) the two thirds majority found to be required by the German Federal Constitutional Court in … Read more

Geographical indications have been receiving increasing levels of attention recently: The UK has announced a new system for GIs which will come into effect at the end of the Brexit transition period (see our post here); the EU has recently concluded an agreement on the mutual recognition of GIs with China (see more on this … Read more

Paediatric Investigation Plans The legal requirements for UK Paediatric Investigation Plans (PIPs) from 1 January 2021 are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, as amended by the Human Medicines Regulations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Under the Human Medicines Regulations, results from an agreed PIP must be included in an application for … Read more

The UK government guidance How the MHRA will manage orphan medicinal products from 1 January 2021 in Great Britain (1 October 2020) confirms that the MHRA will offer incentives in the form of market exclusivity and refunds of MA fees for medicines to treat rare diseases. Read more

Once the UK leaves the EU, it will cease to participate in the European regulatory network for clinical trials, and regulatory responsibilities would shift to the MHRA. The UK government guidance Registration of clinical trials for investigational medicinal products and publication of summary results from 1 January 2021 (1 September 2020) and Guidance on substantial amendments to a clinical trial from 1 January 2021 (1 September 2020) set out the latest position in relation to clinical trials after the transition period ends. Read more