Health Canada is removing restrictions on gay men donating blood, a move Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says is "good news for all Canadians" but had taken too long.
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Trudeau said at a news conference the ban should have ended 10 to 15 years ago, but research proving it would not affect the safety of the blood supply had not been done by previous governments.
Health Canada approved the request by Canadian Blood Services to end the policy that restricts homosexuals from donating blood for three months after engaging in gay sex.
Instead of requiring men who have sex with men to remain abstinent for at least three months before donating, the agency will screen all potential blood and plasma donors for "high-risk sexual behaviours".
Under the new criteria, anyone who had had anal sex with a new partner would have to wait three months before donating, the Canadian Blood Services said on Thursday.
The change is expected to take effect by September 30.
Canadian Blood Services said the change was "science-informed" and allowed the agency to be more inclusive about who could donate while still ensuring a safe blood supply.
The policy began in 1992 as an outright ban on gay men donating blood following a tainted blood scandal.
Several changes were later made to the blood donation regime until deferral periods for donations by gay men were lowered from a lifetime ban to three months in 2019.
Australian Associated Press
