COVID-19 has impacted all areas of our lives this year. But how has COVID-19 impacted regulation and the regulatory industry?

As a result of the pandemic, many regulatory deadlines were pushed back in order to give those affected extra time to prepare.

For us, the most significant deadline was for the PreMarketing Tobacco Application , which FDA introduced to regulate the sale of e-cigarettes. This was extended from its initial submission deadline in May to September, giving companies extra time to prepare what was a lengthy process.

For the health industry, COVID-19 has highlighted weaknesses and where regulation needs to be reviewed, for example, shortages of crucial supplies such as PPE, masks and ventilators.

It is expected that these areas will be looked into in the next few years as we try to understand the shortcomings which were exposed due to the pandemic, and how it can be better managed if a similar situation was ever to occur again.

As well as the loss of jobs and negative impact on the economy, COVID-19 has also provided new opportunities, with businesses launching products such as masks, antibacterial hand sanitiser and even supplements claiming to boost users’ immune systems.

As with any industry, particularly relating to products claiming health benefits, regulation is required to ensure that products aren’t mis-selling, claiming incorrect health benefits or putting consumers’ health at risk. Regulatory bodies are working to ensure that such products are complying with regulations and are not making false or misleading claims about their products.

How has COVID-19 impacted regulation for your business?

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