http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudr/2014/110

Commission Directive 2014/110/EU

of 17 December 2014

amending Directive 2004/33/EC as regards temporary deferral criteria for donors of allogeneic blood donations

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2002/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 setting standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components and amending Directive 2001/83/EC1, and in particular point (d) of the second paragraph of Article 29 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Point 2.2 of Annex III to Commission Directive 2004/33/EC2 lays down temporary deferral criteria for donors with an infectious illness or donors leaving an area where an infectious illness is present.

(2)

Point 2.2.1 of Annex III to Directive 2004/33/EC establishes a deferral period for prospective donors of 28 days after leaving an area with ongoing transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) to humans.

(3)

Recent scientific evidence has demonstrated that a temporary deferral of such prospective donors is not required if a Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) was carried out and the test was negative.

(4)

Therefore, the Member States should be given the option to apply such a test, if they want to replace the temporary deferral criteria.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Directive 2002/98/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: