Articles for the ‘Life Sciences’ Category
Procurement of medical devices: New measures between the EU and China
On 30 June 2025, several measures entered into force that were imposed by the European Commission regarding the purchase of medical equipment originating from China.
The following two measures apply…
... Read moreCategory Captains beware!: Belgian competition authority fines Category Management of OTC medicines
On 24 April 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) announced a landmark decision imposing fines totaling over €11.2 million on three major pharmaceutical companies for their involvement in a long-running anti-competitive arrangement concerning the placement of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in Belgian pharmacies. This decision is the first of its kind in the EU, setting a precedent for future competition law enforcement in category management practices.
... Read moreCJEU’s DocMorris Ruling: where is the line for pharmaceutical advertising?
Published 13 May 2025 by Kirian Claeyé
ALTIUS Lawyers, Belgium
The intersection of pharmaceutical advertising, consumer protection, and internal market freedoms remains a complex legal battleground within the EU. In Apothekerkammer Nordrhein v. DocMorris NV (C-517/23), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) revisited the meaning of ‘advertising of medicinal products’, clarifying how far national restrictions on pharmaceutical advertisements can go under EU pharmaceutical law and internal market principles.
... Read moreThe new Belgian government’s public health policy: 10 key take-aways for pharma policy
Published 17 March 2025 by Kirian Claeyé ALTIUS Lawyers, Belgium
The new Belgian federal government has outlined its vision for public health in a policy paper under the slogan “More money for health, more health for our money”. Public health is a high-priority sector with a significant budget, and the policy paper introduces several key measures that will shape the pharmaceutical industry in the coming years. For pharma companies operating in Belgium, these developments bring both new regulatory challenges and strategic opportunities. Here is a focused analysis of ten key changes and their potential impact on the pharma industry.
... Read moreNew year, new policy: CPVO updates its public access to documents policy
Published 12 February 2025 by Philippe de Jong
ALTIUS Lawyers, Belgium
The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) recently revised its public access to documents policy to align with the European Union (EU)’s evolving transparency standards. Effective since 15 January 2025, the new policy seeks to ensure broad access to all documents that the CPVO holds, while protecting private parties’ commercial interests. In particular, a system of prior confidentiality requests has been put in place for applicants of Community plant variety rights (CPVR).
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