JavaScript is disabled. Please enable to continue!

Mobile search icon
Eurofins >> Consumer Product Testing >> Media Centre >> News >> Newsflash | Europe/US | Lack of personal protective equipment a great difficulty in fight against Coronavirus

Newsflash | Europe/US | Lack of personal protective equipment a great difficulty in fight against Coronavirus

Sidebar Image

banner-Eurofins

 

Europe/US

 

Lack of personal protective equipment a great difficulty in fight against Coronavirus

 

The outbreak of the coronavirus globally has resulted in the necessity for national authorities to adapt legislation in order to facilitate an increase in the production and distribution capacity of personal protective equipment and an acceleration of product approval, as a result of the lack of PPE available globally.

 

In Europe, the production of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), leave-on hand cleaners and hand disinfectants and 3D printing to facilitate the development of these products, in have become a priority to support the fight against coronavirus.

 

For this reason, the European Commission has made available the following documents with the aim of supporting manufacturers and market surveillance authorities to ensure these products comply with necessary safety standards and are effective.

 

On 30th March 2020, the European Commission published the following guidance:

 

The following information related to medical devices and personal protective equipment are also of note:

 

  • Recommendation C/2020/1712 (16/03/2020):

    Commission Recommendation (EU) 2020/403 of 13 March 2020 on conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures within the context of the COVID-19 threat

    With the aim to facilitate the rapid uptake of new products on the EU market

For further information about medical devices, please consult the European Commission’s website here. For further information about personal protective equipment, please consult the European Commission’s website here.

 

In the US, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the following statement on 24th March 2020:

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA takes action to increase U.S. supplies through instructions for PPE and device manufacturers.

 

With the aim of providing instructions to facilitate the import process of products related to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

 

The FDA‘s website has a dedicated section with updated information about personal protective equipment for infection control and outlines specific information about:

 

The agency is providing maximum flexibility to those seeking to bring PPE into the U.S and is ready and available to engage with importers to minimise disruptions during the importation process.