donating blood in france

[LeBFG]

My english neighbour was turned down on numerous occasions when he wanted to give blood in France. He was a mad cow, obviously! Does this blanket ban still apply? Has anyone given blood or been refused in France?

The blanket ban still applies to anyone having spent over a year in the UK between 1980 and 1996.

Poo, I suspected as much. I was a veggie back then. Does this change things?

I doubt it because the law doesn't make any allowances for that. You could always ask them I suppose. I haven't ever tried to give blood, just because I assumed I'd be turned down.

Join the blood donor repulsed club.
I tried in Switzerland and Belgium, sadly because I had lived in England for the period mentioned, it was assumed I have vCJD.

Crazy or what? This gets my goat a bit - on top of this because la vache folle was found in France BEFORE they banned UK imports.

Reminds me of my weirdest moment just after moving here. Queued dutifully outside the blood donor van, then spent fifteen minutes and two pages listing countries I've lived in with dates.
They refused my precious blood. I said, I know, it was the Congo 1965-6, wasn't it? They said no... oh, Senegal then, 1974-5? Ahem, no... I said surely not Turkey, Gabon, Bangladesh???? But no...
it was UK 1980-86 did it for me.
But it's good because I don't particularly enjoy long queues and needles, so now have the perfect excuse.

I was similar unobtanium. I thought it was my four years in Bangkok that sounded the knell for my blood and related products.
No, it was the 36 years in London.
At least the good people of England are now benefitting from my B+.

France isn't the only country where this is the case - I believe Australia and NZ and plenty of other places have similar rules.

It is bloody annoying though.

It is annoying and has caused problems in Singapore. When someone with an unusual (for Asia) blood type is in need the expat community is asked for blood but so many were in UK for some of that time that this is a real problem. In a nomadic group of mostly 30-55 year olds many Europeans and those from Aus, NZ, SA and Canada were disqualified. Americans were the best hope. On 2 occasions I know the relatives were desperate and offered to sign waivers and use the 'dodgy' blood but not allowed.