On April 2025, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) planned to roll out most of its newly proposed fee increases, including a general 8.85% boost across all statutory fees. However, the much-discussed new registration fee of £210 per GMDN code for medical devices has been postponed for further review. During an eight-week consultation in autumn 2024, 72% of participants expressed their opposition to the new registration charge. Critics, including the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), argue that these changes place an undue burden on companies — especially those with multiple product codes like IVD manufacturers, surgical instrument makers, and wound care suppliers.
Concerns have also been raised about rising fees for clinical investigations, prompting the MHRA to let small and medium enterprises split trial costs into two payments. Additionally, new fees for approved body designations faced similar disapproval. In parallel, over half of the respondents backed a new MHRA service offering regulatory advice meetings for an hourly fee of £987, designed to help companies navigate the updated framework. The agency insists these steps are necessary to maintain a robust regulatory system, though many in the industry worry about the potential impact on innovation and investment in the UK.
Source: Medtech Insight (an Informa product)