A CDSCO medical device manufacturing license is required for companies that manufacture medical devices in India. Obtaining a manufacturing license for medical devices in India is subject to a plethora of conditions and paperwork under the CDSCO.
The license is issued by the CDSCO and is necessary to ensure that the medical devices being manufactured meet certain quality and safety standards. The manufacturer must also ensure that their products are in compliance with the regulations laid down by the CDSCO before they can be marketed in the country.

To apply for a Medical Devices Manufacturing License, an applicant must provide extensive documentation to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. This includes information about the premises, the company's legal structure, the identities and qualifications of the staff, technical information about the manufacturing process, and various certifications and approvals from relevant government agencies. The documentation must be self-attested, and applicants must pay a license fee and any additional charges.

1. For Class A – B Medical Devices, apply in Form MD-4 and the license is granted in form MD-6.
2. For Class C – D Medical Devices, apply in Form MD-8 and the license is granted in form MD-10.

Obtaining a medical device manufacturing license in India typically entails the following steps:

Step 1: Submit the application online at cdscomdonline.gov.in using the form MD-3 (or MD-4 for loan license) for a license to be issued on the form MD-5, or as applicable as per the Medical Device Rules.

Upload necessary documents including covering letter, fees challan receipt, the constitution of the firm, documents of site ownership or tenancy agreement, plant master file, device master file for each product, performance evaluation report (if applicable), copy of test license (if applicable), and undertaking that the manufacturing site is in compliance with the provisions of the Fifth Schedule.

Step 2: Application scrutiny and query raised if any discrepancy is noted. Further action is taken upon receipt of the reply to the query from the applicant.

Step 3: Audit of applicant premises by a notified body.
Step 4: Upon receipt of the audit report, it is examined and if found satisfactory, it will be forwarded for the next step.
Step 5: Scrutiny of the details of the products applied to ensure compliance with norms.
Step 6: If all the prescribed conditions are complied with, the manufacturing license is granted.

The ISO 13485 standard is a set of requirements that govern the quality management systems (QMS) of organizations that design and manufacture medical devices. The ISO 13485 standard is focused on QMS effectiveness and meeting regulatory and customer requirements. The current ISO 13485 edition was published on March 1, 2016 and is based on ISO 9001:2008 with a greater focus on risk management and additional documentation requirements.
While ISO 13485 is not a mandatory requirement for manufacturing medical devices in India, it is highly recommended as it demonstrates a commitment to quality and safety and can help companies to meet the regulatory requirements for medical device manufacturing. Many countries, including the United States and European Union, require that medical device manufacturers have an ISO 13485-compliant QMS in place. So, if a company or a manufacturer wants to export its products to other countries, it should comply with ISO 13485.
Additionally, CDSCO also recognizes ISO 13485 as a standard for QMS for Medical Device manufacturers. Hence, it's always recommended to comply with the standard to have a robust QMS system in place and increase the chances of getting a license from CDSCO.

Regulatory Solutions India (RSI) was founded in 2011 and since then has registered, in India, over 400+ products including Medical Devices, IVD, and Cosmetics across 25+ categories viz Stents, Catheters, Intraocular lenses, Orthopedic Implants, Ablation devices, Surgical dressings, Hypodermic Syringe/Needle, etc. for clients from 15+ countries. RSI offers a unique blend of technical, strategic, and project management support to all its clients backed by its rich industry experience. We help companies register their products with the central licensing authority in India i.e. CDSCO while offering expert insights into the CDSCO medical device registration process and the CDSCO medical device import license process to navigate the regulatory landscape effectively.