The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced in a press release that the revision of the Therapeutic Products Act (Heilmittelgesetz, TPA) will come into effect on 1 January 2025. This legislative amendment enshrines two key principles in law: the non-remuneration of blood donations and the prohibition of discrimination.

The principle of non-remuneration, which is already established in the Federal Constitution (Bundesverfassung, BV) for human organs, tissues, and cells, prohibits any form of compensation related to blood donations. Additionally, the importation of blood and blood products for transfusion purposes is prohibited if such compensation has been granted or received. This revision explicitly incorporates the constitutional principle of non-remuneration into the TPA. Furthermore, the revision introduces a prohibition of discrimination, ensuring that individuals cannot be excluded from donating blood based on characteristics such as their sexual orientation.

This legislative amendment implements the parliamentary initiative «Ensuring the Blood Supply and Non-Remuneration of Blood Donations» (16.504), which was unanimously approved by Parliament on 29 September 2023. The referendum period expired unused on 18 January 2024.

For more information, see here.