Most milk banks follow blood bank guidelines and thus milk banks in various countries may exclude people from donating breastmilk when they have traveled or spent time in certain countries because of CJD.

In most countries, it is common for donors to be rejected if they have spent a cumulative 3-6 months in the UK, France, or Ireland. The USA has an especially stringent travel policy for blood and/or milk donors. While the specific timelines allowed for living in or visiting certain geographic areas may differ slightly from country to country, the concern is the same. Please read the section on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) to learn about how this does or does not apply to the sharing of breastmilk.

Canada
As per the Canadian blood services:¹
Anyone who traveled to the UK from 1980 through 1996 or to France and/or Ireland (Republic of Ireland) from 1980 through 2001, is not eligible to donate if they:

• Spent a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (UK) between January 1980 and December 31, 1996
• Spent a cumulative total of 5 years or more in France and/or Ireland (Republic of Ireland) between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2001²

USA
The American Red Cross policy considers you not eligible to donate if:³

• From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in any country in the United Kingdom (UK)
• From January 1, 1980, to present, you had a blood transfusion in any of these countries: France, Ireland, Channel Islands, England, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
• You spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 5 years or more from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2001, in France or Ireland.

AUS
A similar policy applies to potential donors to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, precluding people who have spent a cumulative time of six months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996 and/or have received blood transfusions in the UK since 1 January 1980.⁴

Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, anyone who spent more than six months in the UK or France between the years 1980 and 1996 or received a transfusion in the UK after the year 1980 is not allowed to donate blood.

Denmark
The Association of Blood Donors of Denmark excludes potential donors who have spent a cumulative time of at least twelve months in the United Kingdom between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996.⁵

Germany
Similar regulations are in place in Germany, where anyone who has spent six months or more living in the UK between January 1980 and December 1996 is permanently excluded from donating blood.

Singapore
The Singapore Red Cross excludes potential donors who have spent a cumulative time of three months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.⁶

New Zealand
In New Zealand, anyone who has lived in the UK, France, or the Republic of Ireland for a total of six months or more between 1980 and 1996 is not allowed to donate blood.

Poland
In Poland, anyone who cumulatively spent six months or longer between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996 in the UK, Ireland, or France is permanently excluded from donating.

Switzerland
The Swiss Blutspendedienst SRK excludes potential donors who have spent a cumulative time of at least six months in the United Kingdom between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996.⁷

Please visit the Red Cross website of a specific country for information on local, current, and complete listings.

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1. Canadian Blood Services – Travel ↩︎
2. Channel Islands, England, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales ↩︎
3. American Red Cross policy – Eligibility Reference Material ↩︎
4. Australian Red Cross Life blood – Donating after traveling form ↩︎
5. Bloddonorerne Danmark ↩︎
6. Health Sciences Authority – Can I donate blood ↩︎
7. Blutspende SRK Schweiz – WER KANN BLUT SPENDEN? ↩︎