Substances of human origin, like blood and blood plasma, are essential for many patients with serious medical conditions. Patients who have been in fatal accidents or have rare diseases depend on blood and plasma to survive.

Despite this, the EU is on track to implement new regulations that will make these substances less accessible, by banning financial compensation for donations.

This initiative stems from genuine, reasonable concerns about exploitation and safety. However, this ban does not address these concerns and is being implemented without properly considering the enormous unnecessary suffering that it will cause.

Currently, only 4 EU countries compensate donors of substances of human origin: Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. These four countries alone account for 56% of total plasma collection in the entirety of the EU.

Every other country in the Union runs a significant collection deficit. This makes clear the risks of the ban: massive shortages, that will unnecessarily take the lives of people who depend on these substances.

To cover the deficits, we will be forced to turn to 100% for-profit foreign collectors, who do not have to abide by EU safety regulations. We already depend on the United States for 40% of our plasma supply for rare diseases. This ban will only make concerns about safety and exploitation significantly worse.

This ban has already been accepted by the EU Parliament. However, there is still a chance to reverse course. The Council of the EU must also accept this initiative. It is essential that we act now, to prevent the completely unnecessary suffering that this ban will cause.

We beg of you, sign the petition, email the Council of the EU, call EU leaders. The reality of this situation, which lawmakers seemed to have somehow overlooked, is that, for many people, this is a matter of life or death.