Blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European Community
1994/2228(COS)
Parliament adopted the report by Mr Christian CABROL (UPE, F) on the communication from
the Commission on blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European Community. Parliament
noted the European goal of self-sufficiency and called for the abolition of laws and
administrative provisions which prevent the free circulation of plasma-derived products in the
European Union.
Reaffirming that the human body and its parts are inalienable and non-marketable, it stressed
the need to take measures to guarantee maximum safety in blood supplies, but on the basis
of voluntary, unpaid donations.
It hoped, in particular, that support would be given to blood donor associations and voluntary
organizations and called for the organization of a European Blood Donation Day.
Parliament also called for common regulations to be drawn up applicable to the whole of the
blood transfusion chain concerning the selection of donors, the devising of technical quality
tests for screening for transmissible viral infections and identifying bacteria and parasites, the
treatment of blood, plasma or blood derivatives (conservation and storage conditions) and its
rational use. Wherever possible Parliament intends to promote the use of self-transfusion,
for which there should be appropriate information. Parliament called on the Commission to
support research activity on blood screening tests and to standardize infectious markers and
also to launch and/or support action of all kinds which seeks to encourage the dissemination
of information about blood and blood products and collection, treatment and transfusion
procedures.
It also stressed the need for appropriate training for health professionals.
It called for a recognition of the significant safety benefits arising from donors who donate
repeatedly and for the setting up of a European Blood Safety Supervisory Body responsible
for monitoring blood from the time of collection to the time of use.
Finally, it called for consideration of the possibility of harmonizing the granting of licences to
organizations involved in the collection, treatment, processing and distribution of blood and
blood derivatives in the European Union.
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