The Global Standard for Medical Meetings Starts Here
CVS compliance is no longer optional, it’s the gateway to global participation.
Explore
our practical guide series below.
About This Series
The Conference Vetting System (CVS), created by MedTech Europe, is a mandatory compliance framework used to determine whether third-party medical education events meet the ethical standards required for European industry sponsorship. For U.S.-based medical meetings, a compliant CVS ruling is now essential for enabling European healthcare professionals (HCPs) to attend and for allowing sponsors to provide support.
CVS compliance affects everyone involved: medical associations planning the meeting, industry sponsors evaluating support, and international HCPs seeking access to high-quality continuing education. Non-compliance in even one area, such as venue, hospitality, or marketing language, can prevent participation and restrict global reach.
ABTS created this resource hub to help U.S. associations understand and address CVS requirements with clarity and confidence. Drawing on decades of experience managing international medical meetings and submissions, we’ve translated complex regulations into practical guides tailored to the needs of American planners.
Introduction: Why CVS Compliance Matters
This introductory guide explains why MedTech Europe’s CVS has become a strategic requirement for U.S. medical conferences seeking global participation. It outlines the six compliance categories, highlights recent challenges U.S. meetings have faced, and introduces ABTS’s role in helping associations align with evolving standards. Start here to understand the bigger picture before diving into the individual compliance topics.
Practical Guide Library
Scientific Program
Your scientific agenda is the foundation of CVS compliance. This guide explains how to structure a full-day program with the required hours, define session topics and faculty, and ensure content aligns with the specialties of attending HCPs. It also addresses common issues like vague labeling and non-educational gaps.
Geographic Location
Choosing a location involves more than access and budget. This guide outlines how CVS reviewers evaluate scientific relevance, centrality, seasonality, and the overall perception of your destination. It helps you select cities that support educational goals rather than leisure associations.
Conference Venue
The venue you choose can affect your compliance status. This guide helps organizers identify spaces that convey professionalism and education while avoiding facilities associated with recreation, luxury, or entertainment. It includes specific guidance on what types of venues are considered non-compliant.
Hospitality and Registration
This guide clarifies how to design housing and registration strategies that meet CVS expectations. It covers how to separate entertainment from registration fees, choose compliant hotel offerings, and manage billing clearly. ABTS also shares how we help sponsors and groups through our flexible, compliance-ready hotel block model.
Image, Perception and Promotion
How your event is presented matters as much as what it offers. This guide outlines what CVS reviewers look for in websites, emails, and promotional materials. It also includes ABTS’s recommended solution of using a CVB-hosted microsite to manage destination content without compromising compliance.
Submission Quality and Timing
Many otherwise compliant meetings are rejected due to poor documentation or late submissions. This guide details all required components and timelines for a successful CVS application. It also explains how ABTS supports each step, frompreparation to reviewer communication and corrections.
Meet Our Compliance Team
Patricia Andrade, MBA, HMCC, MMP, OMCP, EUHCCP
Patricia Andrade is Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Compliance at ABTS Convention Services, where she leads the company’s global strategy for international medical meeting participation and regulatory compliance. She also serves as Head of the International Compliance Division, overseeing ABTS’s advisory services for medical associations navigating complex international frameworks.
With over 15 years of experience in the medical meetings industry, Patricia is recognized for her expertise in global sponsorship regulations, including MedTech Europe’s Conference Vetting System. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between compliance policy and practical implementation, ensuring that associations, sponsors, and HCPs can successfully participate in global education opportunities.
Patricia is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, a published contributor to PCMA Convene and other association publications, and a trusted advisor to medical associations. She holds multiple certifications in healthcare compliance, meeting management, and digital marketing, and leads ABTS’s efforts to build compliant, scalable models for international housing, grant logistics, and sponsor services.