Policy Threads

COVID-19 Private Testing Validation

The Department of Health and Social Care and UK Health Security Agency are addressing regulatory failures in the private COVID-19 testing market for international travel, which expanded from 11 to 400+ firms between December 2020 and September 2021 but lacks consumer protections. The market has suffered from unclear pricing, misleading advertisements, and delayed results, with UKAS providing accreditation through a three-stage process. Government intervention is needed to establish functional market regulation and consumer safeguards as testing requirements persist internationally.

24 Feb 2022 | Announcement Department of Health and Social Care linked

Coronavirus Test Device Approval Update

UIN: HLWS623 My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Vaccines and Public Health) (Maggie Throup) has made the following Written Statement: The UK is developing one of the most rigorous regulatory regimes in the world for …

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19 Oct 2021 | Announcement Department of Health and Social Care linked

Coronavirus Test Device Approval Update

UIN: HLWS319 My Honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Vaccines and Public Health) (Maggie Throup) has today made the following statement:The UK is developing one of the most rigorous regulatory regimes in the world for coronavirus …

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20 Jul 2021 | Announcement Department of Health and Social Care linked

Development of the mandatory validation regime for COVID-19 tests on UK Market Impact Assessment.

UIN: HCWS208 This statement sets out the analysis used to support the development of the mandatory validation regime for COVID-19 tests before they can enter the UK market. This goes alongside the full Impact Assessment, which we have published.Testing will …

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20 Jul 2021 | Announcement Department of Health and Social Care linked

Development of the mandatory validation regime for COVID-19 tests on UK Market Impact Assessment.

UIN: HLWS208 My Hon Friend the Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health (Nadine Dorries) has today made the following written ministerial statement:This statement sets out the analysis used to support the development of the mandatory validatio...

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17 Jun 2021 | Announcement Department of Health and Social Care linked

The Medical Devices (Coronavirus Test Device Authorisations) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

UIN: HCWS97 Testing will remain important to controlling and containing the virus going forward. We will need a reliable supply of high quality tests available to give people and businesses the confidence to go about their usual activities.Consumers should have …

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