COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 13 December 1993 on self-sufficiency in blood in the European Community (94/C 15/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Directive 89/381/EEC (1) which provides in particular for special provisions for medicinal products derived from human blood or human plasma,

Taking into account the European Parliament resolution on self-sufficiency in, and safety of, blood and its derivatives in the European Community,

Taking into account work carried out by the Council of Europe,

APPRECIATES the Commission communication on blood self-sufficiency in the Community;

WELCOMES the recommendations made in that communication;

REAFFIRMS the need to achieve self-sufficiency in blood and its derivatives in the Member States and the Community, in particular through cooperation between Member States, in accordance with the principle of voluntary, unpaid blood donations;

AGREES on the need periodically to update, where appropriate in liaison with the Council of Europe, the studies carried out by the Community regarding blood donations and the availability and use of blood and its derivatives, and on the need to examine the possible consequences for self-sufficiency in blood and derived products in the Community of the emergence of substitute medicinal products;

AGREES to promote Community support for measures in the Member States, in particular those undertaken by national donor organizations, in order to improve information on the usefulness and importance of donations with a view to increasing the availability of blood and products derived from blood;

AGREES to encourage efforts in the Member States in the training and informing of medical staff, for example through Community support for the publication of good-practice guides in order to ensure optimum use of blood and its derivatives;

AGREES to continue to promote the quality and safety of blood collection and of blood-derivative production through Community measures in accordance with the rules laid down in Directive 89/381/EEC.

(1) OJ No L 181, 28. 6. 1989, p. 44.