Portuguese device group opposes new tax:

Apormed, the Portuguese medical device industry association, intends to challenge government plans to introduce a 0.4% tax on medical devices. Although technically approved by Parliament on March 15 as part of the budget (see Clinica No 898, p 4), the measure has yet to be formalised via a decree law. Apormed will await the final drafting before formally challenging the move. Not all of the association's members, however, are opposed to the tax, the proceeds of which will be used to help fund quality assurance programmes and related training.