Human blood and blood components: quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution

ACT : Commission Directive 2004/33/EC implementing Directive 2002/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain technical requirements for blood and blood components. CONTENT : in order to prevent the transmission of diseases by blood and blood components and to ensure an equivalent level of quality and safety, Directive 2002/98/EC calls for the establishment of specific technical requirements. This Directive lays down those technical requirements, which take account of Council Recommendation 98/463/EC of 29 June 1998 on the suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood in the European Community, certain recommendations of the Council of Europe, the opinion of the Scientific Committee for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, the monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia, particularly in respect of blood or blood components as a starting material for the manufacture of proprietary medicinal products and recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as international experience in this field. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 19/04/2004. IMPLEMENTATION : 08/02/2005.�