preview BS EN 980:2008

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BRITISH STANDARD

BS EN 980:2008

Symbols for use in the

labelling of medical

devices

ICS 01.080.20; 11.040.01; 11.120.01

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BS EN 980:2008

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 June 2008

ISBN 978 0 580 54636 5

National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 980:2008. It supersedes BS EN 980:2003 which will be withdrawn on 31 May 2010.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee CH/210, Quality management and corresponding general aspects for medical devices, to Subcommittee CH/210/3, General terminology and symbols. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication

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EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM

EN

980

May 2008 ICS 01.080.20; 11.120.01 Supersedes EN 980:2003 English version

Symbols for use in the labelling of medical devices

Symboles utilisés pour l'étiquetage des dispostifs médicaux Symbole zur Kennzeichnung von Medizinprodukten

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 April 2008.

CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN or CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN and/or CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees, respectively, of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CEN Management Centre: CENELEC Central Secretariat:

rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels rue de Stassart, 35 B-1050 Brussels

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EN 980:2008 (E) 2

Foreword

This document (EN 980:2008) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/CLC/TC 3 "Quality management and corresponding general aspects for medical devices" (former CEN/TC 257 “Symbols and information provided with medical devices and nomenclature for regulatory data exchange”), the secretariat of which is held by NEN. This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2008, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by May 2010.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 980:2003.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EC Directive(s).

For relationship with EC Directive(s), see informative Annex ZA, ZB, and ZC, which are an integral part of this document.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

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EN 980:2008 (E)

5

Introduction

This European Standard has been prepared to give expression to the legislative preference within the European Union for the use of symbols in medical device labelling, thereby reducing the need for multiple translations of words into national languages. It is also intended to simplify labelling wherever possible and to prevent separate development of different symbols to convey the same information. It has been prepared to align the presentation of information required by all European Directives on medical devices.

The meaning of some of these symbols is self-evident. Some are already in widespread use and familiar to healthcare professionals. The meaning of others will become clear with use or when viewed in the context of the device itself. Symbols used with medical devices for use by other than healthcare professionals can require additional explanations. In this respect, attention is drawn to the fact that risk management, e.g. the use of EN ISO 14971, is an integral element in medical device design and manufacturing. The use of appropriate symbols can, therefore, be an important element in risk reduction, which is a key part of risk management and is also specifically referred to in the relevant medical device directives. Symbols should only be used without explanation when risk assessment by the manufacturer indicates that it is appropriate.

The symbols in Clause 5 of this European Standard have been in general use for some time and users have some degree of familiarity with them. Additional symbols are now being introduced in Clause 6 which may be new or unfamiliar to users. As a precaution, Clause 6 requires that the meaning of these new symbols be explained in the information supplied by the manufacturer. This is without prejudice to the harmonization of this European Standard and the symbols therein.

It is not always possible to develop symbols for all information presented with the device. Not all symbols are appropriate for all types of medical devices. The validity of information conveyed by a symbol can be adversely affected by subsequent events e.g. damage to a package can affect the sterility of a device.

Annex A provides examples of how some of the symbols can be used. These are illustrative only and do not represent the only ways in which the requirements of this standard can be met.

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EN 980:2008 (E)

6

1 Scope

This European Standard specifies symbols for use in the information supplied by the manufacturer with medical devices. The requirements of this European Standard are not intended to apply to symbols specified in other standards. However, every effort should be made to prevent the specifying of different symbols with the same meaning. This standard does not specify the requirements for information to be supplied with medical devices, which are addressed by EN 375, EN 376, EN 591, EN 592 and EN 1041.

2 Normative

references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

EN 375, Information supplied by the manufacturer with in vitro diagnostic reagents for professional use EN 376, Information supplied by the manufacturer with in vitro diagnostic reagents for self-testing

EN 556-1:2001, Sterilization of medical devices - Requirements for medical devices to be designated "STERILE" –

Part 1: Requirements for terminally sterilized medical devices

EN 591, Instructions for use for in vitro diagnostic instruments for professional use EN 592, Instructions for use for in vitro diagnostic instruments for self-testing EN 1041, Information supplied by the manufacturer with medical devices

EN ISO 15225, Nomenclature – Specification for a nomenclature system for medical devices for the purpose of

regulatory data exchange (ISO 15225: 2000)

ISO 8601, Data elements and interchange formats – Information interchange – Representation of dates and times

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1

symbol used in medical device labelling

object presented on the label and/or on the device itself and/or associated documentation of a medical device, which may utilise symbolic or iconic presentation, that communicates characteristic information (see 3.4) without relying on knowledge of the language of a particular nation or people by the giver or receiver of the information

3.2

symbolic presentation

abstract pictorial or graphic representation

3.3

iconic presentation

pictorial or graphic representation using familiar objects including alphanumeric characters

3.4

characteristic information

mental representation of a property or properties of an object or set of objects [EN 12264:2005]

preview BS EN 980:2008

BRITISH STANDARD

BS EN 980:2008

Symbols for use in the

labelling of medical

devices

BS EN 980:2008

National foreword

EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM

EN

980

Symbols for use in the labelling of medical devices

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

1 Scope

2 Normative

references

3 Terms and definitions