The European Commission’s latest Manual on Borderline and Classification clarifies how to assess when a product falls under the Medical Devices Regulation or In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation or none of both. It consolidates decisions by the Medical Device Coordination Group’s Borderline & Classification Working Group (BCWG), especially those resolved via the Helsinki Procedure.
The Manual offers worked examples of “borderline” cases—such as devices straddling medical vs. accessory, medicinal product, general equipment, or software categories—and guidance on applying risk-classification rules. While not legally binding, it serves as a harmonised reference to support consistent regulatory decisions.
The document can be downloaded in our Download section or directly here.
Source: European Commission