Developments in product liability law are always potentially significant for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers.
On 13 March 2024, the European Parliament adopted new EU consumer protection legislation to repeal and replace the EU Product Liability Directive 85/374/EEC, which has been in force for almost 40 years. Once the new legislation has been approved by the European Council it will become law, and is likely to come into force in around mid-2026. The intention is for EU consumers to have easier access to compensation caused by defective products.
The International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) on Product Liability Laws and Regulations 2024 is now available, and we have prepared: