China is poised to implement significant revisions to its national blood donation policy, marking the first major update to the Law on Blood Donation since its inception in 1997. The National Health Commission announced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, proposed changes that would raise the maximum donor age from 55 to 65 years and reduce the minimum donation interval from six months to just 90 days.
This regulatory modernization follows extensive review of international practices and contemporary medical research. The World Health Organization’s guidelines recommend donor ages between 18 and 65, with numerous developed nations including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan either permitting older donors or establishing no strict upper age limitations. Similarly, the proposed 90-day interval aligns with the 8-12 week standards commonly implemented worldwide.
The Commission emphasized that all potential donors will undergo comprehensive health screenings to ensure safety. Medical evidence confirms that donating 400 milliliters of blood represents less than 10% of total blood volume, with the human body continuously regenerating blood cells without adverse health effects.
Several regions including Hainan Province, Jiangxi Province, and Shenzhen City have already successfully implemented similar relaxed standards through local regulations, providing practical demonstration of the policy’s feasibility and safety.
The draft revision prioritizes donor health protection and blood safety as fundamental principles, proposing enhanced health assessments, scientific donation criteria, improved monitoring systems, and superior donor services. Additional measures include financial subsidies, extended paid leave, and improved medical service access for donors.
The National Health Commission is currently soliciting public feedback on the proposed revisions until January 17, 2026, before submitting the final draft to the legislative body for approval.