CE Marking
Definition
A mandatory conformity marking for products sold within the European Economic Area, indicating that the product meets EU health, safety, and environmental protection requirements. For medical devices, CE marking under the Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) requires conformity assessment by a Notified Body, clinical evaluation, and ongoing post-market surveillance. CE marking is a prerequisite for market access in the EU and is a valuable regulatory intangible asset, though the transition from the Medical Devices Directive to MDR has significantly increased the time and cost of obtaining certification.
Complementary Terms
Concepts that frequently appear alongside CE Marking in practice.
The EU regulatory framework (Regulation 2017/745) governing the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices in the European market, which replaced the Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC) with significantly stricter requirements. MDR imposes enhanced clinical evidence requirements, more rigorous conformity assessment procedures, a Unique Device Identification system, and comprehensive post-market surveillance obligations.
The regulatory categorisation system that assigns medical devices to classes based on their risk to patients, which determines the level of regulatory scrutiny required for market approval. The EU MDR uses four classes (I, IIa, IIb, III) while the FDA uses three (I, II, III).
The authorisation granted by a government or regulatory body permitting a company to manufacture, market, or sell a product or service in a specific jurisdiction. Regulatory approvals — including drug approvals (FDA, EMA), financial service licences (FCA, MAS), telecommunications licences, and environmental permits — are recognised as contract-based intangible assets in purchase price allocations under IFRS 3 and ASC 805 when they arise from contractual or legal rights.
An EU legislative framework (PSD2, Directive 2015/2366) governing payment services and payment service providers across the European Economic Area. PSD2 introduced requirements for strong customer authentication, mandated open access to payment account data for authorised third parties (enabling open banking), and created new categories of regulated payment institutions.
The sequential stages of human testing required before a new drug or medical device can receive regulatory approval. Phase I assesses safety in a small group, Phase II evaluates efficacy and dosing, Phase III confirms effectiveness in large populations, and Phase IV involves post-market surveillance.
The regulatory authorisation granted by the US Food and Drug Administration permitting a medical device to be marketed in the United States, typically through the 510(k) premarket notification pathway for devices that are substantially equivalent to an existing legally marketed device. FDA clearance is distinct from FDA approval (required for higher-risk Class III devices via the Premarket Approval pathway) and represents a significant regulatory intangible asset.
The regulatory process by which a pharmaceutical product receives authorisation for commercial sale, granted by agencies such as the FDA (US), EMA (EU), and MHRA (UK). Drug approval requires demonstration of safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality through preclinical studies and clinical trials.
A cybersecurity framework based on the principle that no user, device, or system should be automatically trusted, whether inside or outside the network perimeter. Zero trust requires continuous verification of identity and access rights for every request, micro-segmentation of network resources, and least-privilege access controls.
Related FAQ
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