Legal Representative in the EU
For Sponsors based outside the EU, it is mandatory to appoint a Legal Representative for conducting clinical trials within EU Member States.
The regulation governing clinical trials conducted within the European Union is outlined in Regulation (EU) 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. According to this regulation, if a Sponsor of a clinical trial is not established within the EU, it must ensure that a natural person or legal entity is appointed as their Legal Representative within the EU.
Under Article 74 of the Regulation, the Legal Representative is responsible for ensuring that the Sponsor complies with its obligations under the Regulation (including administrative duties and responsibilities related to the conduct of clinical trials). Additionally, the Legal Representative serves as the point of contact for all communication between the Sponsor and the relevant institutions or authorities in the affected Member States.