On 25 March 2003, the European Parliament’s Environment, Consumers and Public Health Committee adopted the report by MEP Peter Liese (EPP-ED, DE) on the Commission proposal setting quality and safety standards in relation to human tissues and cells.
Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty specifically states that the EU will adopt legalisation on blood and blood products (finalised in late 2002) and human tissues and cells.
159 amendments were tabled to the report, which was voted in first reading under the codecision procedure.
The amendments concern: ethical issues , the scope of the Directive, donor consent and their anonymity, compensation for tissue and cell donation.
The FINAL report was discussed in the early April 2003 Plenary session of the European Parliament.
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