Category Archives: Medical Device Industry

Is Your Product Still an FDA-Regulated Device in 2026?

The Answer Might Surprise You. One of the most common questions we have received from manufacturers, software developers, and startup founders this year is: Is my product still considered a medical device by the FDA?" The short answer is: maybe not—but don't assume. In 2026, the FDA continued refining its approach to certain low-risk health

Avoiding FDA regulatory issues in your device development

Why Medical Device Startups Struggle With FDA Regulatory Approval: 10 Common Mistakes Quick Answer Medical device startups most often fail to reach market on time because they treat FDA regulatory compliance as a final step rather than building it into product design from the concept stage. The 10 most common causes of medical device startup

The Mid-Year FDA Compliance Check: 5 Things to Verify Before Q3

Short answer: Before Q3 begins, medical device companies should verify five key compliance areas: FDA establishment registration, QMSR implementation, inspection readiness, U.S. Agent designation (for foreign manufacturers), and the status of any open FDA 483 corrective actions. Addressing these items now can help avoid compliance issues and last-minute challenges during the October registration renewal period.

FDA Establishment Registration for Medical Devices — What Foreign Manufacturers Get Wrong

  For foreign medical device firms, FDA establishment registration and U.S. Agent designation are not optional—they are mandatory requirements for accessing the U.S. market. Errors in either process can lead to shipment delays, import holds, or FDA Import Alerts that disrupt business operations and market access. Drawing on nearly 50 years of regulatory experience and

What FDA Inspectors Are Actually Checking Under the New QMSR — MDI’s First-Hand Findings

What FDA Inspectors Are Actually Checking Under the New QMSR — MDI’s First-Hand Findings The single biggest focus area in every QMSR inspection that MDI has participated in is not your quality manual, SOPs/work instruction, documentation structure or your terminology — it is your organizations ability to demonstrate risk-based thinking embedded throughout your entire quality

FDA Launches One-Day Inspectional Assessments to Strengthen and Expand Oversight

FDA Update PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE FDA HAS LAUNCHED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? FDA Launches One-Day Inspectional Assessments to Strengthen and Expand Oversight The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it is piloting one-day inspectional assessments, as part of a broader initiative to make its inspectional resources

The new QMSR regulations – and Risk Analysis

We recently participated in FDA inspections using the new QMSR (Quality Management Systems Regulations). These inspections were very interesting. One was conducted at a foreign client in China the other was in the USA. These inspections went directly to the QMSR and expected that the companies were following the new regulations. If you are already

ISO 10993-6 Update

ISO 10993-6 Update: Implantation Test Methods for Medical Devices ISO 10993-6 is part of the ISO 10993 series, a globally recognized framework for the biological evaluation of medical devices. Specifically, Part 6 focuses on implantation studies, which are designed to assess the local effects of medical devices or materials when placed within living tissue. These

What FDA Inspectors Are Actually Checking Under the New QMSR

FDA UPDATE What FDA Inspectors Are Actually Checking Under the New QMSR — mdi’s First-Hand Findings The FDA’s QMSR replaced the old QSR on February 2, 2026 — and if your quality system documents still reference 21 CFR Part 820 sections instead of ISO 13485 clauses, your next FDA inspection will expose that gap immediately.

Medical Device User Fee Amendments

FDA UPDATE Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) FY2026 – !Exciting News for Small Businesses! The FDA has officially released the Medical Device User Fees for FY2026, and there’s great news for small business firms! For the first time ever, the FDA is offering a waiver for the Annual Establishment Registration Fee—a huge win for