On 28 September 2021, the JAG5 "Medical Device Life Cycle" had its kick-off meeting.
JAG5 stands for Joint Advisory Group #5, jointly between IEC TC 62 and ISO/TC 210. This JAG has as its task to advise the parent committees on matters related to the life cycle of medical devices, with an emphasis on environmental and circular economy aspects. A more elaborate scope and task description is available at the website for JAG5 (see link below). IEC TC 62 is the lead technical committee for this JAG5, therefore the JAG5 webpage resides within the IEC domain.
The joint leadership of IEC TC 62 and ISO/TC 210 is grateful for the many nominations submitted by the members of both committees, national committees as well as liaison organisations, including the Global Harmonisation Working Party (GHWP). In line with the ISO/IEC Directives, a careful selection was made of participants for JAG5 from the nominations to arrive at as broad experience and geographical inclusion as possible. The proposed leadership of JAG5, Ms. Paulyne Wairimu from Kenya and Mr. Nicklas Funk from Denmark, was well received
For those who have been monitoring the development around this joint advisory group may say "at last", as the first ideas of this Joint Advisory Group go back to April 2018, the London plenary meeting of IEC TC 62. What started as a discussion on refurbishment of medical equipment resulted in a resolution asking for a joint advisory group, together with ISO/TC 210, to elaborate and advise on life cycle aspects of medical devices. The scope of JAG5 is clearly much wider than refurbishment. The JAG5 report -planned for fall 2022- may well contain advice that has an impact on the work program of the parent committees. That impact can include proposals to amend existing publications or to develop completely new deliverables.