EU-Swiss Medtech Industry Supports MRA Update Negotiations

A joint statement by Swiss Medtech, SVDI, and MedTech Europe highlights the industry’s support for the ongoing EU-Switzerland negotiations aimed at updating the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for medical devices and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs). The MRA, suspended since 2021, has led to trade barriers, administrative burdens, and increased costs for companies on both sides. The industry stresses that renewing the MRA is crucial for patient access to innovative technologies, seamless trade, and boosting the competitiveness of the MedTech sector across Switzerland and Europe. 

What are the challenges with the lack of a Swiss-EU Medtech MHRA update?

The lack of an updated MRA has created significant challenges, such as the need for companies to establish local representatives, adding financial burdens without improving product safety or patient care. Swiss and European MedTech associations argue that addressing these barriers would enable faster access to life-saving devices and support a unified healthcare system. The associations call for swift action to secure a modernized MRA, emphasizing that it is in the mutual interest of both regions to restore effective collaboration and maintain their positions as leaders in medical innovation. 

With the resumption of the negotiations in 2024, the update to the MRA would help overcome current obstacles in trade and enhance the resilience of healthcare systems in Switzerland and the EU. A renewed agreement would support economic growth, streamline the movement of goods, and strengthen cooperation in key areas of medical technology, benefiting patients and the broader industry.  

You can read the full statement here. 

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