China planning to raise age limit for blood donors, shorten the minimum interval

China is considering raising the upper age limit for blood donors from 55 to 65 and shortening the minimum donation interval from six months to 90 days, aligning with international standards and new medical research, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday.

The proposed changes are part of a draft revision to the country's Law on Blood Donation, which has been released by the commission to solicit public opinion. The law, initially passed by the top legislature in late 1997, has remained unchanged ever since.

The commission said expanding the donor pool aligns with global practices. The World Health Organization recommends donors be aged 18 to 65, while some countries — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan — permit older donors or set no strict upper age limit. Meanwhile, many countries require donation intervals of about eight to 12 weeks.

The commission added that all donors will undergo health screenings prior to donation to ensure their safety. Modern medical research has shown that blood regenerates continuously, and a donation of 400 milliliters accounts for less than 10 percent of total blood volume, posing no harm to the body.

Provinces such as Hainan and Jiangxi, as well as Shenzhen city in Guangdong province, have already implemented similar relaxations in age and donation intervals in local regulations, demonstrating the feasibility of the changes.

The commission emphasized that safeguarding donor health and ensuring blood safety is the primary principle and lifeline of blood donation efforts. While considering law revisions, efforts will be strengthened to implement rigorous health assessments, establish scientific donation criteria, enhance blood monitoring, improve donor services and care, and refine supervision mechanisms.

The draft revision also proposes better protection and incentives for donors, including financial subsidies, additional paid leave, and easier access to medical services. Public feedback on the draft will be accepted until January 17.