Blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European Community

In a resolution on blood safety and self-sufficiency, the Council reaffirmed the need to define a strategy for reinforcing trust in the safety of the blood ­transfusion chain and promoting self-sufficiency in the Community and stipulated that the main activities to be undertaken could include: - the development of policies and agreed procedures in the donor selection process among blood collection establishments; - the implementation of efficient, validated and reliable screening tests; - the development and use of quality assessment criteria and good practices regarding the collection, processing and transfusion of blood and blood products and patient follow-up procedures; - development of a haemovigilance system on the basis of existing networks; - encouragement of health professionals to make optimal use of blood and blood products; - the establishment of basic criteria for inspection and training of inspectors; - the dissemination to the public of information on blood and blood products and on collection, processing and transfusion procedures, taking account of socio-cultural differences. It invited the Commission: - to continue its collaboration with the Member States in the search to define a strategy for reinforcing trust in the safety of the blood transfusion chain and for promoting self­-sufficiency in the Community through voluntary unpaid donations and to send it regular progress reports; - to continue its cooperation with the Council of Europe in the blood transfusion area; - to submit appropriate proposals in the specific areas mentioned in support of Member States’ action and to encourage the development of a coordinated approach in the matter of blood safety.