Brazil updates blood donation rules to expand eligible donor pool

Brazil's Ministry of Health has issued Ordinance 11.685/2026, updating regulations for blood donation to expand the pool of eligible donors. The new rules, effective nationwide in October, account for an aging population by allowing healthy donors to continue contributing after age 70.

The updated guidelines also address lifestyle changes and aesthetic procedures. Individuals who have received tattoos, piercings, permanent makeup, or aesthetic interventions such as Botox or fillers may donate seven days after the procedure, provided it was performed in a facility meeting sanitary safety standards. If safety compliance cannot be verified, the waiting period extends to four months. Piercings in the mouth or genital area require a four-month waiting period following removal.

In related local efforts, Hemoba is conducting mobile blood collection and bone marrow donor registration at Salvador Norte Shopping in Salvador, Bahia, through August 22.