LTR 63: A lawyer's perspective on the QMSR transition

“Don’t be comfortable saying, ‘Oh I follow the ISO (13485) to the letter’; it doesn’t matter. You have to comply with 21 CFR 820.”In this Let’s Talk Risk! conversation, Neil Di Spirito, helps us understand the full legal context behind the Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR), the amended version of 21 CFR 820 that will go into effect in February 2026. Although, the QMSR incorporates the International Standard ISO 13485:2016 by way of reference, there are points of differences and additional requirements for compliance to 21 CFR 820. That is why it is important to carefully consider gaps from the current QSR against the full scope of QMSR, not just ISO 13485 requirements. It is not simply a technical matter, but also a legal matter that manufacturers should consider evaluating with help from a legal expert. Neil advises manufacturers to consider operating two parallel processes right up to the exact date of QMSR enforcement, gain working experience to appropriately modify their approach for compliance. A good way to do this is through a Quality Plan. Listen to this Let’s Talk Risk! conversation with Neil Di Spirito, which also includes an open discussion with a live audience. Jump to a section of interest using these timestamps.00:02:45 Introduction00:06:45 The legal basis of 21 CFR 820 modification to QMSR00:11:20 QMSR lowers the compliance burden by harmonization with ISO 1348500:15:59 Recommendations for manufacturers to prepare a transition to QMSR00:18:50 Audience Q&A and general discussion00:32:28 Closing comments and key takeawaysIf you enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing to the Let’s Talk Risk! newsletter.Suggested links:FDA: Frequently asked questions about QMSRLTR webinar: Getting ready for QMSRAbout Neil Di SpiritoNeil Di Spirito is the Principal at DiSpirito Law, PLLC, where he represents pharmaceutical, biologic and medical device companies in regulatory, commercial and FDA enforcement defense matters. He has 20+ years of industry experience in various roles including business management with P&L responsibility. He teaches introductory courses in pharmaceutical and medical device law to FDA new hires and industry legal professionals. He holds an MBA degree with specialization in Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, and a Juris Doctor, Law degree. Let’s Talk Risk! with Dr. Naveen Agarwal is a weekly live audio event on LinkedIn, where we talk about risk management related topics in a casual, informal way. Join us at 11:00 am EST every Friday on LinkedIn.DisclaimerInformation and insights presented in this podcast are for educational purposes only. Views expressed by all speakers are their own and do not reflect those of their respective organizations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naveenagarwalphd.substack.com/subscribe