ADDE board prioritises digitalisation and closer collaboration with FIDE

To increase organisational agility, the board also agreed that online general assemblies will be permitted under the statutes from 2026 onwards. In addition, ADDE plans to intensify exchanges with national associations through a dedicated outreach campaign. The Survey on the European Dental Trade will also be reinstated, providing up-to-date insights into key developments affecting dentistry in Europe, including supply chains and market trends.

“ADDE now has more responsibilities than in the past, and it thrives on the initiatives of its members and the implementation of their shared interests. Key objectives include strengthening dialogue with the European manufacturers’ federation FIDE and reinforcing our joint representation in Brussels,” said ADDE president Jochen G. Linneweh. “One thing is certain: The European dental market is among the most important in the world. There are numerous areas where a jointly formulated European position could have a significant impact,” he concluded.

Closer alignment with FIDE on regulatory challenges

Alongside the board meeting, ADDE representatives met with FIDE. Both organisations described the exchange as highly constructive and agreed to increase the frequency of their meetings from once to twice a year.

ADDE and FIDE jointly reaffirmed their support for Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (MDR), underlining the importance of patient and user safety. At the same time, they voiced serious concern about developments in online commerce. The growing influx of dental products sold via Asian online platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress is seen as problematic, as many of these products reportedly fail to meet MDR and CE marking requirements.

“Revitalising the ADDE is absolutely essential in light of the challenges posed by excessive regulations such as the MDR and the growing influx of non-compliant products from outside Europe. As the French dealers’ and manufacturers’ association Comident, we already act as a valued point of contact for authorities and policymakers because we cover the entire value chain. ADDE strongly supports these national initiatives to safeguard the quality of the European market and to combat illegal practices,” said Tamara Fayolle, vice president of ADDE.

Appeal to EU institutions

In response, ADDE and FIDE issued a clear appeal to EU institutions, calling for stricter enforcement of existing regulations. They stressed that patient safety must not be undermined by uncontrolled imports and urged the EU to ensure fair competition by applying MDR requirements equally to all market participants. According to the organisations, the current situation not only poses potential risks to dental care standards but also threatens jobs across Europe’s dental trade and manufacturing industries.

More information can be found at www.adde.info.