The European Union (EU) Product Liability Directive, alongside the growing availability of collective redress mechanisms globally, is accelerating the convergence of product liability and class action risk for life sciences and medical device companies across jurisdictions.
This alert highlights potential implications for multinational businesses and related compliance, litigation preparedness, and risk management considerations discussed by a panel of product liability and class action lawyers at DLA Piper’s 2026 Global Class Action Summit.
The evolving regulatory and legislative landscape
In the EU, two landmark developments are reshaping the product liability and collective redress landscape. The Representative Actions Directive has now been implemented across member states, requiring all EU jurisdictions to maintain collective litigation procedures for consumer protection.
