🇭🇷Europe

Medical Device Regulation in Croatia

Croatia regulates medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR 2017/745) as an EU member state. The Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (HALMED) is the national competent authority. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and has progressively aligned its medical device regulatory framework with the EU harmonized system.

FrameworkEU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745; EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) 2017/746; Croatian Medical Devices Act (Zakon o medicinskim proizvodima, NN 76/2013 as amended)
Classification systemClass I / Class IIa / Class IIb / Class III
Primary agencyHALMED
RegionEurope
References tracked55
Updates this year0

Sources Tracked by Qalico

Qalico continuously monitors 55 references across guidelines, regulations, and standards for Croatia.

Regulations

HALMED - Laws and Regulations55 refs

Device Classification

Class IClass IIaClass IIbClass III

Croatia follows the EU MDR classification system. Class I devices are low risk (e.g., tongue depressors, reusable scalpels). Class IIa devices are low-moderate risk (e.g., powered hearing aids, blood glucose monitors). Class IIb devices are moderate-high risk (e.g., ventilators, bone screws). Class III devices are high risk (e.g., spinal disc replacements, drug-coated balloons). Classification follows EU MDR Annex VIII.

Official classification guidance →

Standards & Key Principles

Applicable Standards

ISO 13485:2016 – Quality Management Systems for Medical DevicesISO 14971:2019 – Risk Management for Medical DevicesIEC 60601-1 – Medical Electrical Equipment SafetyEN ISO 10993 – Biological Evaluation of Medical DevicesEN 62304 – Medical Device Software Lifecycle ProcessesHRN EN ISO 13485 – Croatian Adoption of ISO 13485

Key Principles

  • Medical devices must bear the CE mark under EU MDR 2017/745 to be placed on the Croatian market.
  • EUDAMED registration and UDI compliance are required.
  • Notified body involvement is mandatory for Class IIa, IIb, and III devices.
  • Non-EU manufacturers must appoint an EU-based authorized representative.
  • Post-market surveillance and vigilance reporting to HALMED are mandatory obligations.

Pre-Market Requirements

CE Marking and Conformity Assessment

Devices must comply with EU MDR 2017/745 and bear the CE mark. Notified body assessment is required for Class IIa, IIb, and III devices.

Technical Documentation

Full technical documentation per EU MDR Annexes II and III must be prepared and maintained.

Clinical Evaluation

Clinical evaluations are mandatory for all device classes. Clinical investigations in Croatia require HALMED authorization and ethics committee approval.

EUDAMED Registration

Manufacturers must register in EUDAMED with actor, device, and UDI information.

Post-Market Requirements

Post-Market Surveillance

PMS systems must be maintained per EU MDR requirements. PSURs are required for Class IIa, IIb, and III devices.

Vigilance Reporting

Serious incidents and field safety corrective actions must be reported to HALMED per EU MDR Article 87.

Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up

Ongoing PMCF activities are required to continuously validate device safety and performance.

International Recognition & Reliance

European Union

As an EU member state, CE-marked devices are recognized across all EU/EEA member states.

Switzerland

CE-marked devices from EU member states are recognized in Switzerland under the MRA framework.

Stay on top of regulatory changes in Croatia

Qalico monitors publications from HALMED in real time, surfacing updates that matter to your device category — so your team never misses a critical change.