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Document 02004L0023-20090807
Directive 2004/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells
Consolidated text: Directive 2004/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells
Directive 2004/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells
02004L0023 — EN — 07.08.2009 — 001.001
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DIRECTIVE 2004/23/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 31 March 2004 (OJ L 102 7.4.2004, p. 48) |
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REGULATION (EC) No 596/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 June 2009 |
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18.7.2009 |
DIRECTIVE 2004/23/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 31 March 2004
on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Objective
This Directive lays down standards of quality and safety for human tissues and cells intended for human applications, in order to ensure a high level of protection of human health.
Article 2
Scope
Where such manufactured products are covered by other directives, this Directive shall apply only to donation, procurement and testing.
This Directive shall not apply to:
tissues and cells used as an autologous graft within the same surgical procedure;
blood and blood components as defined by Directive 2002/98/EC;
organs or parts of organs if it is their function to be used for the same purpose as the entire organ in the human body.
Article 3
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive:
‘cells’ means individual human cells or a collection of human cells when not bound by any form of connective tissue;
‘tissue’ means all constituent parts of the human body formed by cells;
‘donor’ means every human source, whether living or deceased, of human cells or tissues;
‘donation’ means donating human tissues or cells intended for human applications;
‘organ’ means a differentiated and vital part of the human body, formed by different tissues, that maintains its structure, vascularisation and capacity to develop physiological functions with an important level of autonomy;
‘procurement’ means a process by which tissue or cells are made available;
‘processing’ means all operations involved in the preparation, manipulation, preservation and packaging of tissues or cells intended for human applications;
‘preservation’ means the use of chemical agents, alterations in environmental conditions or other means during processing to prevent or retard biological or physical deterioration of cells or tissues;
‘quarantine’ means the status of retrieved tissue or cells, or tissue isolated physically or by other effective means, whilst awaiting a decision on their acceptance or rejection;
‘storage’ means maintaining the product under appropriate controlled conditions until distribution;
‘distribution’ means transportation and delivery of tissues or cells intended for human applications;
‘human application’ means the use of tissues or cells on or in a human recipient and extracorporal applications;
‘serious adverse event’ means any untoward occurrence associated with the procurement, testing, processing, storage and distribution of tissues and cells that might lead to the transmission of a communicable disease, to death or life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions for patients or which might result in, or prolong, hospitalisation or morbidity;
‘serious adverse reaction’ means an unintended response, including a communicable disease, in the donor or in the recipient associated with the procurement or human application of tissues and cells that is fatal, life-threatening, disabling, incapacitating or which results in, or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity;
‘tissue establishment’ means a tissue bank or a unit of a hospital or another body where activities of processing, preservation, storage or distribution of human tissues and cells are undertaken. It may also be responsible for procurement or testing of tissues and cells;
‘allogeneic use’ means cells or tissues removed from one person and applied to another;
‘autologous use’ means cells or tissues removed from and applied in the same person.
Article 4
Implementation
In particular, a Member State may introduce requirements for voluntary unpaid donation, which include the prohibition or restriction of imports of human tissues and cells, to ensure a high level of health protection, provided that the conditions of the Treaty are met.
CHAPTER II
OBLIGATIONS ON MEMBER STATES' AUTHORITIES
Article 5
Supervision of human tissue and cell procurement
Article 6
Accreditation, designation, authorisation or licensing of tissue establishments and tissue and cell preparation processes
Article 7
Inspections and control measures
Such inspections and control measures shall be carried out by officials representing the competent authority, who shall be empowered to:
inspect tissue establishments and the facilities of any third parties as specified in Article 24;
evaluate and verify the procedures and the activities carried out in tissue establishments and the facilities of third parties that are relevant to the requirements of this Directive;
examine any documents or other records relating to the requirements of this Directive.
Article 8
Traceability
Article 9
Import/export of human tissues and cells
The import or export of tissues and cells referred to in Article 6(5) may be authorised directly by the competent authority or authorities.
In case of emergency, the import or export of certain tissues and cells may be authorised directly by the competent authority or authorities.
The competent authority or authorities shall take all necessary measures to ensure that imports and exports of tissues and cells referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b) meet quality and safety standards equivalent to those laid down in this Directive.
Article 10
Register of tissue establishments and reporting obligations
Article 11
Notification of serious adverse events and reactions
CHAPTER III
DONOR SELECTION AND EVALUATION
Article 12
Principles governing tissue and cell donation
Donors may receive compensation, which is strictly limited to making good the expenses and inconveniences related to the donation. In that case, Member States define the conditions under which compensation may be granted.
Member States shall report to the Commission on these measures before 7 April 2006 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 measures it intends to take at Community level.
Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the procurement of tissues and cells as such is carried out on a non-profit basis.
Article 13
Consent
Article 14
Data protection and confidentiality
For that purpose, they shall ensure that:
data security measures are in place, as well as safeguards against any unauthorised data additions, deletions or modifications to donor files or deferral records, and transfer of information;
procedures are in place to resolve data discrepancies; and
no unauthorised disclosure of information occurs, whilst guaranteeing the traceability of donations.
Article 15
Selection, evaluation and procurement
CHAPTER IV
PROVISIONS ON THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF TISSUES AND CELLS
Article 16
Quality management
Tissue establishments shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the quality system includes at least the following documentation:
Article 17
Responsible person
Every tissue establishment shall designate a responsible person who shall at least fulfil the following conditions and have the following qualifications:
possession of 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;
at least two years' practical experience in the relevant fields.
The person designated in paragraph 1 shall be responsible for:
ensuring that human tissues and cells intended for human applications in the establishment for which that person is responsible are procured, tested, processed, stored and distributed in accordance with this Directive and with the laws in force in the Member State;
providing information to the competent authority or authorities as required in Article 6;
implementing the requirements of Articles 7, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 18 to 24 within the tissue establishment.
Article 18
Personnel
Personnel directly involved in activities relating to the procurement, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of tissues and cells in a tissue establishment shall be qualified to perform such tasks and shall be provided with the training referred to in Article 28(c).
Article 19
Tissue and cell reception
Article 20
Tissue and cell processing
Article 21
Tissue and cell storage conditions
Article 22
Labelling, documentation and packaging
Tissue establishments shall ensure that labelling, documentation and packaging conform to the requirements referred to in Article 28(f).
Article 23
Distribution
Tissue establishments shall ensure the quality of tissues and cells during distribution. Distribution conditions shall comply with the requirements referred to in Article 28(h).
Article 24
Relations between tissue establishments and third parties
Tissue establishments shall establish written agreements with a third party each time an external activity takes place which influences the quality and safety of tissues and cells processed in cooperation with a third party, and in particular in the following circumstances:
where a tissue establishment entrusts one of the stages of tissue or cell processing to a third party;
where a third party provides goods and services that affect tissue or cell quality and safety assurance, including their distribution;
where a tissue establishment provides services to a tissue establishment which is not accredited;
where a tissue establishment distributes tissue or cells processed by third parties.
CHAPTER V
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, REPORTS AND PENALTIES
Article 25
Coding of information
Article 26
Reports
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 7 April 2006 and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendments affecting them.
CHAPTER VI
CONSULTATION OF COMMITTEES
Article 28
Technical requirements and their adaptation to scientific and technical progress
►M1 The following technical requirements and their adaptation to scientific and technical progress shall be decided by the Commission: ◄
requirements for the accreditation, designation, authorisation or licensing of tissue establishments;
requirements for the procurement of human tissues and cells;
quality system, including training;
selection criteria for the donor of tissues and/or cells;
laboratory tests required for donors;
cell and/or tissue procurement procedures and reception at the tissue establishment;
requirements for the tissue and cell preparation process;
tissue and cell processing, storage and distribution;
requirements for the direct distribution to the recipient of specific tissues and cells.
Technical requirements referred to in points (a) to (i), being measures designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 29(3).
On imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may have recourse to the urgency procedure referred to in Article 29(4) as regards technical requirements referred to in points (d) and (e) of this Article.
Article 29
Committee
The period referred to in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
Article 30
Consultation of one or more scientific committees
The Commission may consult the relevant scientific committee(s) when defining or adapting the technical requirements referred to in Article 28 to scientific and technical progress.
CHAPTER VII
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 31
Transposition
When Member States adopt these measures they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by the Member States.
Article 32
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 33
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX
INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ON THE DONATION OF CELLS AND/OR TISSUES
A. Living donors
1. The person in charge of the donation process shall ensure that the donor has been properly informed of at least those aspects relating to the donation and procurement process outlined in paragraph 3. Information must be given prior to the procurement.
2. The information must be given by a trained person able to transmit it in an appropriate and clear manner, using terms that are easily understood by the donor.
3. The information must cover: the purpose and nature of the procurement, its consequences and risks; analytical tests, if they are performed; recording and protection of donor data, medical confidentiality; therapeutic purpose and potential benefits and information on the applicable safeguards intended to protect the donor.
4. The donor must be informed that he/she has the right to receive the confirmed results of the analytical tests, clearly explained.
5. Information must be given on the necessity for requiring the applicable mandatory consent, certification and authorisation in order that the tissue and/or cell procurement can be carried out.
B. Deceased donors
1. All information must be given and all necessary consents and authorisations must be obtained in accordance with the legislation in force in Member States.
2. The confirmed results of the donor's evaluation must be communicated and clearly explained to the relevant persons in accordance with the legislation in Member States.
( 1 ) OJ C 227 E, 24.9.2002, p. 505.
( 2 ) OJ C 85, 8.4.2003, p. 44.
( 3 ) Opinion of the European Parliament of 10 April 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council common position of 22 July 2003 (OJ C 240 E, 7.10.2003, p. 3), position of the European Parliament of 16 December 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 2 March 2004.
( 4 ) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/63/EC (OJ L 159, 27.6.2003, p. 46).
( 5 ) Directive 2000/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 amending Council Directive 93/42/EEC as regards medical devices incorporating stable derivates of human blood or human plasma (OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 22).
( 6 ) Council Recommendation of 29 June 1998 on the suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood in the European Community (OJ L 203, 21.7.1998, p. 14).
( 7 ) 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 (OJ L 33, 8.2.2003, p. 30).
( 8 ) OJ L 167, 18.7.1995, p. 19.
( 9 ) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.
( 10 ) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).
( 11 ) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.