Updates

New working arrangements between Dutch Food Safety Authority and Inspection Board Health Products

In the Netherlands, advertising disputes over health products rarely reach the civil courts. Instead, self-regulation by the Inspection Board plays a central role, working hand in hand with the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA). New working arrangements between the two bodies, in force until the end of 2027, set out exactly when a case stays within self-regulation and when NVWA steps in directly. With the line between a lawful health claim and an unauthorised medical claim often razor-thin, knowing which route applies matters.

Axon supports pharmaceutical companies in licensing their products across Europe and beyond. We draft and negotiate licence agreements tailored to each market, helping clients maximise the value of their intellectual property.

Axon regularly acts as a sub-contractor for leading international firms to assist in regulatory due diligence in our fields of expertise: pharma, medical technology and food.

Axon assists medical technology companies in structuring their collaborations with hospitals and universities. We draft and negotiate cooperation agreements that protect our clients’ IP while fostering innovation.

We have conducted regulatory due diligence in connection with the acquisition of a pharmacy, covering compliance with applicable pharmaceutical and healthcare legislation.

We have advised a client on an inspection by the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate (IGJ).

We have assisted several clients in challenging tender decisions by Dutch hospitals.

We have assisted a client in setting up a multinational data strategy, including advice on anonymisation of personal data and interaction product regulations and the upcoming high-risk regime under the European Health Data Space Act (EHDS Act) to help them continue innovating without endangering company confidential developments.

What distinguishes our lawyers is the ability to see the whole regulatory picture. We have assisted multiple clients, ranging from CROs to pharma start-ups to medical device manufacturers, in setting up GDPR compliance processes and agreements that allow for seamless interaction with other legal frameworks such as MDR and IVDR.

We have assisted a pharmaceutical company with the alignment of its promotional materials with applicable codes of conduct.