Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Following media reports in Austria the South African Department of Health expressed concern about the reports alleging that blood plasma exported from South Africa was contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis.
With the stringent controls in place, contaminated blood plasma cannot legally be exported from South Africa. The seven Blood Transfusion Services of South Africa are the only legal bodies able to collect donor blood. The Regulatory Standards of Practice require that all blood donations be tested for infectious agents including HIV and Hepatitis.
All seven Blood Transfusion Services have indicated that they have no knowledge of the alleged contaminated blood plasma purportedly exported from South Africa. All blood exported from South Africa requires a permit issued by the Department of Health in terms of the Human Tissue Act (Act 65 of 1983).
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY IN VIENNA
PRETORIA 20 APRIL 1998