Contains biological material of animal origin (BIO with a paw)
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“Indicates a medical device that contains biological tissue, cells, or their derivatives, of animal origin.”
ISO 15223-1:2021, 5.4.8 · ISO 7000-3699
What it means for you
Part of the device is made from animal tissue or something derived from it — pig or cow heart valves, bovine collagen, gelatin, porcine heparin. People who avoid animal products for dietary, religious or ethical reasons look for this.
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- The rounded, point-down triangle with the letters BIO and an animal paw print.
- Where you see it
- Tissue heart valves, collagen and gelatin sponges, some wound dressings, grafts and sutures.
- Other names
- BIO paw; animal tissue; porcine or bovine material
What it does not tell you
It does not say which animal or which tissue; the instructions for use do.
Often confused with
Indicates a medical device that contains biological tissue, cells, or their derivatives, of human origin.
More symbols in “A rounded triangle”
Sources
ISO 15223-1 is a paid standard, so the wording above is quoted as 3 publishers’ public documents reproduce it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- Boston Scientific: Symbols Glossary — ISO 15223-1 5.4.8 “Contains biological material of animal origin — Indicates a medical device that contains biological tissue, cells, or their derivatives, of animal origin.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- NE Scientific: Master Symbol Glossary (CTF-100011 Rev 01) — Shows the BIO-and-paw mark for reference no. 5.4.8 (ISO 7000-3699). Checked 2026-09-28.
- MedTech Europe: Use of Symbols to Indicate Compliance with the MDR, version 3.0 (November 2021) — Lists “Contains biological material of animal origin (3699)”: “contains tissues or cells, or their derivatives, of animal origin”. Checked 2026-09-28.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.