Human tissues and cells are focus of public consultation

Following the entry into force of a
human tissues and cells directive, a public consultation is
focusing on the technical requirements for donation,
procurement and testing.

The Commission has initiated an open consultation on
the technical requirements related to the donation,
procurement and testing of human tissues and cells. The
consultation is open until 1 October and its results will
feed into a new Commission Directive. 

The directive which sets quality and safety standards
for the application of human tissues and cells entered
into force on 7 April following its adoption a month
earlier (see also 
EURACTIV, 3 March 2004

). This directive obliges the Commission to establish
technical requirements for dealing with tissues and
cells, from donation to distribution, through the
comitology procedure. 

The current consultation covers the requirements for
the first phases of processing human cells and tissues:
their donation, procurement and testing, setting rules
for donor eligibility and criteria for acceptance of
tissues and cells at the processing
establishment. 

A separate draft will address the technical
requirements for processing, preservation, storage and
distribution of human tissues and cells. 

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