INFORMATION LEAFLET

Information Leaflet on IVD DirectiveEuropeAid /114385/D/SV/CYMANUFACTURERThe manufacturer is defined in the Directive as:a. the “person with responsibility for the design, manufacture, packaging and labelling of adevice before it is placed on the market under his own name, regardless of whetherthese operations are carried out by that person himself or on his behalf by a third party;”orb. a person who “assembles, packages, processes, fully refurbishes and/or labels one ormore ready made products and/or assigns to them their intended purpose as deviceswith a view to their being placed on the market under his own name.” This does not applyto a person who assembles or adapts devices already on the market to their intendedpurpose for an individual patient.AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVEManufacturers who do not have a registered place of business in the EC must designate anauthorised representative to perform certain obligations (e.g. to make certain documentationavailable on request) and may designate an authorised representative to perform othersubstantive obligations.Additionally, such a manufacturer must also designate an authorised representative as theperson responsible for marketing the IVD in the EC and for registering that device with theappropriate Competent Authority.ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTSAnnex I of the Directive lists various "essential requirements" with which IVDs must complybefore being placed on the market/put into service. These aim to ensure that IVDs do notcompromise the health and safety of patients, users, and others, and are designed andmanufactured so that they are suitable for the relevant purpose specified by the manufacturerand achieve the performances stated by the manufacturer. Not all the essential requirements willapply to all devices and it is for the manufacturer of the device to assess which are appropriatefor his particular product. In determining this, account must betaken of the intended purpose ofthe device.LEVEL OF REGULATORY CONTROLThe majority of IVDs do not require the intervention of a notified body in the conformityassessment process. However, for some IVDs (the correct performance of which is perceived tobe essential to health), involvement of a notified body will be required.For the purposes of the conformity assessment procedures, the Directive groups IVDs into fourcategories.THE FOUR CATEGORIESThese categories are, in order of increasing perceived risk:• general IVDs, i.e. all IVDs other than those covered by Annex II and IVDs for self-testing;