China Implements Restrictions on EU Medical Device Imports in Government Procurement

On Thursday, the Chinese Ministry of Finance elaborated on actions taken regarding medical devices imported from the European Union in the context of government procurement. A notice issued by the ministry on Sunday outlined that if a government entity wishes to procure medical devices with a budget surpassing 45 million yuan (approximately $6.29 million), EU companies will not be allowed to participate, except for those EU-funded firms operating within China. This exclusion applies regardless of whether the procurement involves single items, bulk buying of a specific product, or various product types, once the budget threshold is met.

The ministry clarified that EU-funded companies in China are permitted to engage in procurement related to high-cost medical devices, as long as the medical devices sourced from the EU do not account for more than 50 percent of the total value of the contract. It's important to note that these measures do not extend to state-owned enterprise procurements, which are classified separately and therefore remain unaffected by this notice.

Additionally, a representative from China's commerce ministry responded to the ongoing situation, highlighting that changes introduced by the European Commission on June 20, 2025, aim to limit Chinese businesses' access to EU public procurement for medical devices, effectively raising the stakes against Chinese enterprises. The spokesperson emphasized that China has shown a willingness to resolve these issues through dialogue, but lamented the EU's persistent enforcement of protective barriers. In light of these developments, China has felt compelled to impose reciprocal restrictions to protect the interests of its companies and uphold a competitive marketplace.