EU launches investigation into Chinese medical device market

The Commission has invited China to submit its views and also to enter consultations with the Commission to eliminate or remedy the alleged measures and practices, the journal said. The investigation is to be concluded within nine months, although the Commission can extend this period by a further five months.

The European Commission launched an investigation on Wednesday into Chinese public procurement of medical devices to determine if European suppliers have been granted fair access, the EU's official journal said on Wednesday.

The investigation is the first under the EU International Procurement Instrument, which aims to promote reciprocity in access to international public procurement markets. It could lead to the bloc placing restrictions on Chinese medical device companies bidding in EU public tenders.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese government. The EU official journal listed a number of ways in which the Commission suspected China was unfairly favouring Chinese bidders, including a 'Buy China' policy, restrictions on imports and conditions leading to abnormally low bids that profit-oriented companies could not offer.

"The Commission’s preliminary assessment is that the above measures and practices result in a de jure and de facto serious and recurrent impairment of access of (European) Union economic operators," the EU journal said. The Commission has invited China to submit its views and also to enter consultations with the Commission to eliminate or remedy the alleged measures and practices, the journal said.

The investigation is to be concluded within nine months, although the Commission can extend this period by a further five months.

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