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Health Canada Seeks National Consensus on SUD Reuse

November 16, 2007

Citing the absence of authority to regulate the reprocessing and reuse of single-use medical devices (SUDs) by hospitals and healthcare practitioners, Health Canada has formed a working group to develop a pan-Canadian position on the controversial practice.

The panel met for the first time in June and plans to formulate a policy based on evidence collected by organizations such as the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health and Health Canada, as well as recommendations published by healthcare associations and provincial and territorial health ministries, the agency said.

The decision to seek a national mandate on the reprocessing of SUDs follows a review of Health Canada’s current authority and the conclusion that the Food and Drugs Act, which forms the basis of the Medical Devices Regulations, does not apply to products once they are sold, the agency said.