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/EC
Date: 2003-01-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: blood transfusion, health control, therapeutics

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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 distribu-
tion of human blood and blood components and amending Directive 2001/83/EC

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Article 152(4)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text approved by
the Conciliation Committee on 4 November 2002,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The extent to which human blood is used therapeutically
demands that the quality and safety of whole blood and
blood components be ensured in order to prevent in
particular the transmission of diseases.

The availability of blood and blood components used for
therapeutic purposes is dependent largely on Commu-
nity citizens who are prepared to donate. In order to
safeguard public health and to prevent the transmission
of infectious diseases, all precautionary measures during
their collection, processing, distribution and use need to
be taken making appropriate use of scientific progress in
the detection and inactivation and elimination of transfu-
sion transmissible pathogenic agents.

The quality, safety, and efficacy requirements of proprie-
tary industrially-prepared medicinal products derived
from human blood or plasma were ensured through
Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community
code relating to medicinal products for human use (5).
The specific exclusion of whole blood, plasma and blood
cells of human origin from that Directive, however, has
led to a situation whereby their quality and safety, in so
transfusion and not
far as
to any binding
processed as such, are not subject
Community legislation.
that
whatever the intended purpose, Community provisions

they are intended for

is essential,

therefore,

It

(1) OJ C 154 E, 29.5.2001, p. 141 and
OJ C 75 E, 26.3.2002, p. 104.

(2) OJ C 221, 7.8.2001, p. 106.
(3) OJ C 19, 22.1.2002, p. 6.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 September 2001 (OJ C 72
E, 21.3.2002, p. 289), Council Common Position of 14 February
2002 (OJ C 113 E, 14.5.2002, p. 93) and Decision of the European
Parliament of 12 June 2002 (not yet published in the Official
Journal). Decision of the European Parliament of 18 December
2002 and Decision of the Council of 16 December 2002.

(5) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67.

should ensure that blood and its components are of
comparable quality and safety throughout
the blood
transfusion chain in all Member States, bearing in mind
the freedom of movement of citizens within Community
territory. The establishment of high standards of quality
and safety, therefore, will help to reassure the public that
human blood and blood components which are derived
from donations in another Member State nonetheless
meet
the same requirements as those in their own
country.

In respect of blood or blood components as a starting
material for the manufacture of proprietary medicinal
products, Directive 2001/83/EC refers to measures to be
taken by Member States to prevent the transmission of
infectious diseases, comprising the application of the
monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia and the
the Council of Europe and the
recommendations of
World Health Organisation (WHO) as regards in parti-
cular the selection and testing of blood and plasma
Furthermore, Member
donors.
should take
measures
to promote Community self-sufficiency in
human blood or blood components and to encourage
voluntary unpaid donations of blood and blood compo-
nents.

States

In order to ensure that there is an equivalent level of
safety and quality of blood components, whatever their
intended purpose, technical requirements for the collec-
tion and testing of all blood and blood components
including starting materials
for medicinal products
should be established by this Directive. Directive 2001/
83/EC should be amended accordingly.

The Commission's Communication of 21 December
1994 on Blood Safety and Self-sufficiency in the
European Community identified the need for a blood
strategy in order to reinforce confidence in the safety of
the blood transfusion chain and promote Community
self-sufficiency.

In its Resolution of 2 June 1995, on blood safety and
self-sufficiency in the Community (6), the Council invited
the Commission to submit appropriate proposals in the
framework of the development of a blood strategy.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(6) OJ C 164, 30.6.1995, p. 1.

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(8)

(9)

In its Resolution of 12 November 1996 on a strategy
towards blood safety and self-sufficiency in the European
Community (1), the Council invited the Commission to
submit proposals as a matter of urgency with a view to
encouraging the development of a coordinated approach
to the safety of blood and blood products.

In its Resolutions of 14 September 1993 (2), 18
November 1993 (3), 14 July 1995 (4), and 17 April
1996 (5) on blood safety and self-sufficiency through
voluntary unpaid donations in the European Commu-
nity, the European Parliament stressed the importance of
ensuring the highest level of blood safety and has reiter-
ated its continued support for the objective of Commu-
nity self-sufficiency.

(10)

In elaborating the provisions of this Directive account
has been taken of
the Scientific
Committee for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices
as well as international experience in this field.

the opinion of

(11)

The nature of autologous transfusion necessitates a
specific consideration in respect of how and when to
apply the different provisions of this Directive.

(12) Hospital blood banks are hospital units which perform a
limited number of activities, storage, distribution, and
compatibility tests. In order to ensure that the quality
and safety of blood and blood components are preserved
during the whole transfusion chain, while taking account
of the specific nature and functions of hospital blood
banks, only provisions relevant to these activities should
apply to hospital blood banks.

(13) Member States

should ensure

that an appropriate
mechanism for designating, authorising, accrediting or
licensing exists to ensure that the activities of blood
establishments are performed in accordance with the
requirements of this Directive.

(14) Member States should organise inspection and control
measures, to be carried out by officials representing the
competent authority, to ensure the compliance of the
blood establishment with the provisions of this Direc-
tive.

(15)

Personnel directly involved in the collection,
testing,
processing, storage and distribution of blood and blood
components need to be appropriately qualified and
provided with timely and relevant
training, without
prejudice to existing Community legislation on the
recognition of professional qualifications and on the
protection of workers.

(1) OJ C 374, 11.12.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 268, 4.10.1993, p. 29.
(3) OJ C 329, 6.12.1993, p. 268.
(4) OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 231.
(5) OJ C 141, 13.5.1996, p. 131.

(16)

should establish and maintain
Blood establishments
quality systems involving all activities that determine the
quality policy objectives and responsibilities and imple-
ment them by such means as quality planning, quality
control, quality assurance, and quality improvement
within the quality system, taking into account the princi-
ples of good manufacturing practice as well as the EC
conformity assessment system.

and

laboratory

identification

(17) An adequate system to ensure traceability of whole
blood and blood components should be established.
Traceability should be enforced through accurate donor,
patient,
procedures,
through record maintenance, and through an appro-
priate identification and labelling system. It is desirable
that a system is developed in order to enable the unique
and unmistakable identification of donations of blood
and blood components in the Community. In the case of
blood and blood components imported from third coun-
tries,
it is important that an equivalent level of trace-
ability be ensured by the blood establishments in the
stages preceding importation into the Community. The
same requirements of traceability which apply to blood
and blood components collected in the Community
should be ensured in the stages following importation.

(18)

It is important to introduce a set of organised surveil-
lance procedures to collect and evaluate information on
the adverse or unexpected events or reactions resulting
from the collection of blood or blood components in
order to prevent similar or equivalent events or reactions
from occurring thereby improving the security of trans-
fusion by adequate measures. To this end a common
system of notification of serious adverse events and reac-
tions linked to the collection, processing, testing, storage,
and distribution of blood and blood components should
be established in Member States.

(19)

It is important that when abnormal findings are reported
to the donor, relevant counselling is also provided.

(20) Modern blood-transfusion practice has been founded on
the principles of voluntary donor services, anonymity of
both donor and recipient, benevolence of the donor, and
absence of profit on the part of
the establishments
involved in blood transfusion services.

(21) All necessary measures need to be taken in order to
provide prospective donors of blood or blood compo-
nents with assurances regarding the confidentiality of
any
the
information
authorised personnel, the results of the tests on their
donations as well as any future traceability of their dona-
tion.

health-related

provided

to

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(22) According to Article 152(5) of the Treaty, the provisions
of this Directive cannot affect national provisions on the
donations of blood. Article 152(4)(a) of the Treaty states
that Member States cannot be prevented from main-
taining or
stringent protective
measures as regards standards of quality and safety of
blood and blood components.

introducing more

(23)

(24)

Voluntary and unpaid blood donations are a factor
which can contribute to high safety standards for blood
and blood components and therefore to the protection
of human health. The efforts of the Council of Europe in
this area should be supported and all necessary measures
should be taken to encourage voluntary and unpaid
donations through appropriate measures and initiatives
and through ensuring that donors gain greater public
recognition, thereby also increasing self-sufficiency. The
the
definition of voluntary and unpaid donation of
Council of Europe should be taken into account.

therapeutic
Blood and blood components used for
purposes or
should be
for use in medical devices
obtained from individuals whose health status is such
that no detrimental effects will ensue as a result of the
donation and that any risk of transmission of infectious
diseases is minimised; each and every blood donation
should be tested in accordance with rules which provide
assurances that all necessary measures have been taken
to safeguard the health of individuals who are the recipi-
ents of blood and blood components.

(25) Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and the
Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of indivi-
duals with regard to the processing of personal data and
the free movement of such data (1) requires that data
related to the health of an individual be subject to rein-
forced protection. However, it covers only personal data
and not that rendered anonymous. This Directive should
therefore introduce additional safeguards to prevent any
unauthorised changes to donation registries, or proces-
sing records, or the unauthorised disclosure of informa-
tion.

(26)

(27)

The Commission should be empowered to establish
technical requirements and adopt any necessary changes
thereto and to the Annexes in order to take into account
scientific and technical progress.

technical

requirements and adaptation to
Setting of
progress should take into account the Council recom-
mendation of 29 June 1998 on the suitability of blood
and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood
in the EC (2), relevant recommendations of the Council
of Europe and the WHO as well as indications of rele-
vant European institutions and organisations such as the
monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia.

(28)

(29)

(30)

(31)

(32)

It is necessary that the best possible scientific advice is
available to the Community in relation to the safety of
blood and blood components, in particular as regards
adapting the provisions of this Directive to scientific and
technical progress.

Tests should be carried out in conformity with the latest
scientific and technical procedures that reflect current
best practice as defined by, and regularly reviewed and
updated through, an appropriate expert consultation
process. This
should also take due
account of scientific advances in the detection, inactiva-
tion and elimination of pathogens which can be trans-
mitted via transfusion.

review process

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (3).

In order to increase the effective implementation of the
provisions adopted under this Directive it is appropriate
to provide for penalties to be applied by Member States.

Since the objectives of this Directive, namely to contri-
bute to general confidence both in the quality of donated
blood and blood components and in the health protec-
tion of donors, to attain self-sufficiency at a Community
level and to enhance confidence in the safety of the
transfusion chain among the Member States, cannot be
sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can
therefore by reason of its scale and effects be better
achieved at Community level,
the Community may
in accordance with the principle of
adopt measures,
subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty.
In
accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set
out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond
what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(33)

Responsibility for the organisation of health services and
the provision of medical care should remain the respon-
sibility of each Member State,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Objectives

This Directive lays down standards of quality and safety of
human blood and of blood components, in order to ensure a
high level of human health protection.

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31.
(2) OJ L 203, 21.7.1998, p. 14.

(3) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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Article 2

Scope

1.
This Directive shall apply to the collection and testing of
human blood and blood components, whatever their intended
purpose, and to their processing, storage, and distribution
when intended for transfusion.

2. Where blood and blood components are collected and
tested for the sole purpose and exclusive use in autologous
transfusion and are clearly identified as such, the requirements
to be complied with in respect thereof shall be in accordance
with those referred to in Article 29(g).

This Directive shall apply without prejudice to Directives

3.
93/42/EEC (1), 95/46/EC or 98/79/EC (2).

4.

This Directive does not apply to blood stem cells.

Article 3

Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive:

(a) ‘blood’ shall mean whole blood collected from a donor and
processed either for transfusion or for further manufac-
turing;

(b) ‘blood component’ shall mean a therapeutic constituent of
blood (red cells, white cells, platelets, plasma) that can be
prepared by various methods;

(c) ‘blood product’ shall mean any therapeutic product derived

from human blood or plasma;

(d) ‘autologous transfusion’ shall mean transfusion in which
the donor and the recipient are the same person and in
which pre-deposited blood and blood components are
used;

(e) ‘blood establishment’ shall mean any structure or body that
is responsible for any aspect of the collection and testing
of human blood or blood components, whatever their
intended purpose, and their processing, storage, and distri-
bution when intended for
transfusion. This does not
include hospital blood banks;

(f) ‘hospital blood bank’ shall mean a hospital unit which
stores and distributes and may perform compatibility tests
on blood and blood components exclusively for use within
including hospital based transfusion
hospital
activities;

facilities,

(g) ‘serious adverse event’ shall mean any untoward occur-
rence associated with the collection, testing, processing,
storage and distribution, of blood and blood components
that might lead to death or life-threatening, disabling or
incapacitating conditions for patients or which results in,
or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity;

(h) ‘serious adverse

reaction’

shall mean an unintended
response in donor or in patient associated with the collec-
tion or transfusion of blood or blood components that is
fatal,
incapacitating, or which
results in, or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity;

life-threatening, disabling,

(i) ‘blood component release’ shall mean a process which
enables a blood component to be released from a quaran-
tine status by the use of systems and procedures to ensure
that the finished product meets its release specification;

(j) ‘deferral’ shall mean suspension of the eligibility of an indi-
vidual to donate blood or blood components such suspen-
sion being either permanent or temporary;

(k) ‘distribution’ shall mean the act of delivery of blood and
blood components to other blood establishments, hospital
blood banks and manufacturers of blood and plasma
derived products. It does not include the issuing of blood
or blood components for transfusion.

(l) ‘haemovigilance’ shall mean a set of organised surveillance
relating to serious adverse or unexpected
procedures
events or reactions in donors or recipients, and the epide-
miological follow-up of donors;

(m) ‘inspection’

shall mean formal and objective control
according to adopted standards to assess compliance with
this Directive and other relevant legislation and to identify
problems.

Article 4

Implementation

1. Member States shall designate the competent authority or
authorities responsible for implementing the requirements of
this Directive.

This Directive shall not prevent a Member State from
2.
maintaining or
introducing in its territory more stringent
protective measures which comply with the provisions of the
Treaty.

In particular, a Member State may introduce requirements for
voluntary and unpaid donations, which include the prohibition
or restriction of imports of blood and blood components, to
ensure a high level of health protection and to achieve the
objective set out in Article 20(1), provided that the conditions
of the Treaty are met.

(1) Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical
devices (OJ L 169, 12.7.1993, p. 1). Directive as last amended by
Directive 2001/104/EC of
the
Council (OJ L 6, 10.1.2002, p. 50).

the European Parliament and of

(2) Directive 98/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 27 October 1998 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (OJ L
331, 7.12.1998, p. 1).

3.
In carrying out the activities covered by this Directive the
Commission may have recourse to technical and/or administra-
tive assistance to the mutual benefit of the Commission and of
the beneficiaries, relating to identification, preparation, manage-
ment, monitoring, audit and control, as well as to support
expenditure.

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CHAPTER II

OBLIGATIONS ON MEMBER STATES AUTHORITIES

Inspection and control measures shall be organised by the
2.
competent authority on a regular basis. The interval between
two inspections and control measures shall not exceed two
years.

Article 5

Designation, authorisation, accreditation or licensing of
blood establishments

1. Member States shall ensure that activities relating to the
collection and testing of human blood and blood components,
whatever their intended purpose, and to their preparation,
storage, and distribution when intended for transfusion, are
undertaken only by the blood establishments which have been
designated, authorised, accredited or licensed by the competent
authority for that purpose.

For the purpose of paragraph 1, the blood establishment
2.
shall submit the information listed in Annex I to the competent
authority.

3.
The competent authority, having verified whether the
blood establishment complies with the requirements set out in
this Directive, shall indicate to the blood establishment which
activities it may undertake and which conditions apply.

No substantial change in activities shall be undertaken by
4.
the blood establishment without prior written approval by the
competent authority.

5.
The competent authority may suspend or revoke the
designation, authorisation, accreditation or licence of a blood
establishment if inspection or control measures demonstrate
that the blood establishment does not comply with the require-
ments of this Directive.

Article 6

Hospital blood banks

Articles 7, 10, 11(1), 12(1), 14, 15, 22 and 24 shall apply to
hospital blood banks.

Article 7

Provisions for existing establishments

Member States may decide to maintain national provisions for
nine months after the date laid down in Article 32 so as to
enable blood establishments operating under their legislation to
comply with the requirements of this Directive.

Article 8

Inspection and control measures

1. Member States shall ensure that the competent authority
organise inspections and appropriate control measures in blood
establishments to ensure that the requirements of this Directive
are complied with.

3.
Such inspection and control measures shall be carried out
by officials representing the competent authority who must be
empowered to:

(a) inspect blood establishments as well as facilities of any third
parties on its own territory entrusted by the holder of the
designation, authorisation, accreditation or licence referred
to in Article 5 with the task of carrying out evaluation and
testing procedures pursuant to Article 18;

(b) take samples for examination and analysis;

(c) examine any documents relating to the object of the inspec-
tion, subject to the provisions in force in the Member States
at the time of the entry into force of this Directive and
which place restrictions on these powers with regard to the
descriptions of the method of preparation.

4.
The competent authority shall organise inspection and
other control measures as appropriate in the event of any
serious adverse event or reaction or suspicion thereof in accor-
dance with Article 15.

CHAPTER III

PROVISIONS FOR BLOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

Article 9

Responsible person

Blood establishments shall designate a person (responsible

1.
person), responsible for:

— ensuring that every unit of blood or blood components has
been collected and tested, whatever its intended purpose,
and processed, stored, and distributed, when intended for
transfusion,
in compliance with the laws in force in the
Member State,

— providing information to the competent authority in the
designation, authorisation, accreditation or licensing proce-
dures as required in Article 5,

— the implementation of the requirements of Articles 10, 11,

12, 13, 14 and 15 in the blood establishment.

The responsible person shall fulfil the following minimum

2.
conditions of qualification:

(a) he/she shall possess a diploma, certificate or other evidence
of formal qualifications in the field of medical or biological
sciences awarded on completion of a university course of
study or a course recognised as equivalent by the Member
State concerned;

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(b) he/she shall have practical post-graduate experience in rele-
vant areas for at least two years, in one or more establish-
ments which are authorised to undertake activities related
to collection and/or testing of human blood and blood
components, or to their preparation, storage, and distribu-
tion.

3.
The tasks specified in paragraph 1 may be delegated to
other persons who shall be qualified by training and experience
to perform such tasks.

4.
Blood establishments shall notify the competent authority
of the name of the responsible person referred to in paragraph
1 and other persons referred to in paragraph 3 together with
information on the specific tasks for which they are respon-
sible.

5. Where the responsible person or such other persons
referred to in paragraph 3 are permanently or temporarily
replaced, the blood establishment shall provide immediately the
name of the new responsible person and his or her date of
commencement to the competent authority.

Article 10

Personnel

Personnel directly involved in collection, testing, processing,
storage, and distribution of human blood and blood compo-
nents shall be qualified to perform those tasks and be provided
with timely, relevant and regularly updated training.

CHAPTER IV

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Article 11

Quality system for blood establishments

1. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure
that each blood establishment establishes and maintains a
quality system for blood establishments based on the principles
of good practice.

2.
The Commission shall establish the Community standards
and specifications referred to in Article 29(h) for the activities
relating to a quality system to be carried out by a blood estab-
lishment.

Article 12

Documentation

1. Member States shall take all necessary measures in order
to ensure that blood establishments maintain documentation
on operational procedures, guidelines, training and reference
manuals, and reporting forms.

2. Member States shall take all necessary measures in order
to ensure that access is provided to these documents for offi-
cials entrusted with inspection and control measures referred to
in Article 8.

Article 13

Record keeping

1. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure
that blood establishments maintain records of the information
required in Annexes II and IV and under Article 29(b), (c) and
(d). The records shall be kept for a minimum of 15 years.

The competent authority shall keep records of the data
2.
received from the blood establishments according to Articles 5,
7, 8, 9 and 15.

CHAPTER V

HAEMOVIGILANCE

Article 14

Traceability

1. Member States shall take all necessary measures in order
to ensure that blood and blood components collected, tested,
processed, stored, released and/or distributed on their territory
can be traced from donor to recipient and vice versa.

To this end, Member States shall ensure that blood establish-
ments implement a system for identification of each single
blood donation and each single blood unit and components
thereof enabling full traceability to the donor as well as to the
transfusion and the recipient thereof. The system must unmis-
takably identify each unique donation and type of blood
component. This system shall be established in accordance with
the requirements referred to in Article 29(a).

With regard to blood and blood components imported from
third countries, Member States shall ensure that the donor iden-
tification system to be implemented by blood establishments
permits an equivalent level of traceability.

2. Member States shall take all necessary measures in order
to ensure that the system used for the labelling of blood and
blood components collected, tested, processed, stored, released
and/or distributed on their territory complies with the identifi-
cation system referred to in paragraph 1 and the labelling
requirements listed in Annex III.

Data needed for full traceability in accordance with this

3.
Article shall be kept for at least 30 years.

Article 15

Notification of serious adverse events and reactions

1. Member States shall ensure that:

— any serious adverse events (accidents and errors) related to
the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution
of blood and blood components which may have an influ-
ence on their quality and safety, as well as any serious
adverse reactions observed during or after
transfusion
which may be attributed to the quality and the safety of
blood and blood components are notified to the competent
authority,

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— blood establishments have in place a procedure accurately,
efficiently and verifiably to withdraw from distribution
blood or blood components associated with the notification
referred to above.

These serious adverse events and reactions shall be noti-
2.
fied in accordance with the procedure and notification format
referred to in Article 29(i).

CHAPTER VI

PROVISIONS FOR THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF BLOOD
AND BLOOD COMPONENTS

Article 16

Provision of information to prospective donors

Member States shall ensure that all prospective donors of blood
or blood components in the Community are provided with
information referred to in Article 29(b).

2. Member States shall submit reports to the Commission
on these measures two years after the entry into force of this
Directive, and thereafter every three years. On the basis of these
reports the Commission shall inform the European Parliament
and the Council of any necessary further measure it intends to
take at Community level.

Article 21

Testing of donations

Blood establishments shall ensure that each donation of blood
and blood components is tested in conformity with require-
ments listed in Annex IV.

Member States shall ensure that blood and blood components
imported into the Community are tested in conformity with
requirements listed in Annex IV.

Article 22

Article 17

Storage, transport and distribution conditions

Information required from donors

Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that,
upon agreement of a willingness to commence the donation of
blood or blood components, all donors in the Community
provide the information referred to in Article 29(c) to the
blood establishment.

Article 18

Eligibility of donors

1.
Blood establishments shall ensure that there are evalua-
tion procedures in place for all donors of blood and blood
components and that the criteria for donation referred to in
Article 29(d) are met.

2.
The results of the donor evaluation and testing proce-
dures shall be documented and any relevant abnormal findings
shall be reported to the donor.

Article 19

Examination of donors

An examination of the donor, including an interview, shall be
carried out before any donation of blood or blood components.
A qualified health professional shall be responsible, in parti-
cular, for giving to and gathering from donors the information
which is necessary to assess their eligibility to donate and shall,
on the basis thereof, assess the eligibility of donors.

Article 20

Voluntary and unpaid blood donation

Blood establishments shall ensure that the storage, transport
and distribution conditions of blood and blood components
comply with the requirements referred to in Article 29(e).

Article 23

Quality and safety requirements for blood and blood
components

Blood establishments shall ensure that quality and safety
requirements for blood and blood components meet the high
standards in compliance with the requirements referred to in
Article 29(f).

CHAPTER VII

DATA PROTECTION

Article 24

Data protection and confidentiality

Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that
all data,
including genetic information, collated within the
scope of this Directive to which third parties have access have
been rendered anonymous so that the donor is no longer iden-
tifiable.

For that purpose, they shall ensure:

(a) that data security measures are in place as well as safe-
guards against unauthorised data additions, deletions or
modifications to donor files or deferral records, and transfer
of information;

1. Member States shall
take the necessary measures to
encourage voluntary and unpaid blood donations with a view
to ensuring that blood and blood components are in so far as
possible provided from such donations.

(b) that procedures are in place to resolve data discrepancies;

(c) that no unauthorised disclosure of such information occurs,

whilst guaranteeing the traceability of donations.

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CHAPTER VIII

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, REPORTS AND PENALTIES

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

Article 25

The period referred to in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at three months.

Information exchange

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

The Commission shall hold regular meetings with the compe-
tent authorities designated by the Member States, delegations of
experts from blood establishments and other relevant parties to
exchange information on the experience acquired with regard
to the implementation of this Directive.

Article 29

Technical requirements and their adaptation to technical
and scientific progress

Article 26

Reports

1. Member States shall send to the Commission, commen-
cing on 31 December 2003 and every three years thereafter, a
report on the activities undertaken in relation to the provisions
of this Directive, including an account of the measures taken in
relation to inspection and control.

2.
The Commission shall transmit to the European Parlia-
ment, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of
the reports submitted by the
Member States on the experience gained in implementing this
Directive.

the Regions,

3.
The Commission shall transmit to the European Parlia-
ment, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions, commencing on 1 July 2004 and
every three years thereafter, a report on the implementation of
the requirements in this Directive, and in particular those
relating to inspection and control.

Article 27

Penalties

Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable
to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant
to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure
that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be
effective, proportionate, and dissuasive. Member States shall
notify those provisions to the Commission by the date specified
in Article 32 at the latest and shall notify it without delay of
any subsequent amendments affecting them.

CHAPTER IX

COMMITTEES

Article 28

Regulatory procedure

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.

the technical

The adaptation of
in
Annexes I to IV to technical and scientific progress shall be
decided in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
28(2).

requirements

set out

The following technical requirements and their adaptation to
technical and scientific progress shall be decided in accordance
with the procedure referred to in Article 28(2):

(a) traceability requirements;

(b) information to be provided to donors;

(c) information to be obtained from donors including the iden-
tification, health history, and the signature of the donor;

(d) requirements concerning the suitability of blood and
plasma donors and the screening of donated blood
including

— permanent deferral criteria and possible exemption

thereto

— temporary deferral criteria;

(e) storage, transport and distribution requirements;

(f) quality and safety requirements

for blood and blood

components;

(g) requirements applicable to autologous transfusions;

(h) Community standards and specifications
quality system for blood establishments;

relating to a

(i) Community procedure for notifying serious adverse reac-

tions and events and notification format.

Article 30

Consultation of scientific committee(s)

The Commission may consult the relevant scientific commit-
tee(s) when establishing the technical requirements referred to
in Article 29 and when adapting the technical requirements set
out in Annexes I to IV to scientific and technical progress, in
particular with a view to ensuring an equivalent level of quality
and safety of blood and blood components used for transfusion
and blood and blood components used as a starting material
for the manufacture of medicinal products.

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CHAPTER X

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 31

Amendment of Directive 2001/83/EC

Article 109 of Directive 2001/83/EC shall be replaced by the
following:

‘Article 109

For the collection and testing of human blood and human
plasma, 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 compo-
nents and amending Directive 2001/83/EC (*) shall apply.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member
States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
texts of the provisions of national law that they have already
adopted or which they adopt in the field governed by this
Directive.

Article 33

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publica-
tion in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 34

Addressees

(*) OJ L 33, 8.2.2003, p. 30.’

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Article 32

Transposition

Done at Brussels, 27 January 2003.

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations
and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this
Directive not later than 8 February 2005. They shall forthwith
inform the Commission thereof.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

G. DRYS

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ANNEX I

INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY BLOOD ESTABLISHMENT TO THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR
THE PURPOSES OF DESIGNATION, AUTHORISATION, ACCREDITATION OR LICENSING IN ACCOR-
DANCE WITH ARTICLE 5(2)

Pa r t A :

General information:

— identification of the blood establishment

— name, qualification and contact details of responsible persons

— a list of hospital blood banks which it supplies.

Pa r t B :

A description of the quality system, to include:

— documentation, such as an organisation chart,

including responsibilities of responsible persons and

reporting relationships

— documentation such as site master file or quality manual describing the quality system in accordance

with Article 11(1)

— number and qualifications of personnel

— hygiene provisions

— premises and equipment

— list of standard operating procedures for recruitment, retention and assessment of donors, for proces-
sing and testing, distribution and recall of blood and blood components and for the reporting and
recording of serious adverse reactions and events.

ANNEX II

REPORT OF THE BLOOD ESTABLISHMENT'S PRECEDING YEAR'S ACTIVITY

This annual report will include:

— total number of donors who give blood and blood components

— total number of donations

— an updated list of the hospital blood banks which it supplies

— total number of whole donations not used

— number of each component produced and distributed

— incidence and prevalence of transfusion transmissible infectious markers in donors of blood and blood components

— number of product recalls

— number of serious adverse events and reactions reported.

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ANNEX III

LABELLING REQUIREMENTS

The label on the component must contain the following information:

— the official name of the component

— the volume or weight or number of cells in the component (as appropriate)

— the unique numeric or alphanumeric donation identification

— the name of producing blood establishment

— the ABO Group (not required for plasma intended only for fractionation)

— the Rh D Group, either Rh D positive or Rh D negative (not required for plasma intended only for fractionation)

— the date or time of expiry (as appropriate)

— the temperature of storage

— the name, composition and volume of anticoagulant and/or additive solution (if any).

ANNEX IV

BASIC TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR WHOLE BLOOD AND PLASMA DONATIONS

The following tests must be performed for whole blood and apheresis donations, including autologous predeposit dona-
tions:

— ABO Group (not required for plasma intended only for fractionation)

— Rh D Group (not required for plasma intended only for fractionation)

— testing for the following infections in the donors:

— Hepatitis B (HBs-Ag)
— Hepatitis C (Anti-HCV)
— HIV 1/2 (Anti-HIV 1/2)

Additional tests may be required for specific components or donors or epidemiological situations.