EU GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION ADOPTED THIS WEEK

On Thursday April 14, the European Parliament has adopted the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The legislation will likely come into force in the spring of 2018.

The significance of the GDPR for biobanking and biomedical research infrastructures

The GDPR sets a new European standard for data protection in national and transnational biobanking for biomedical and health research. The regulation leaves considerable space for such research, provided that the rights of those contributing data are respected and sufficient measures to protect against data breaches are taken.

Next steps

Managing data protection and privacy will continue to be a core concern for all biobanks and biomedical research infrastructures in the years to come. The GDPR warrants a careful review of current measures and future plans. BBMRI-ERIC is ready to lead the way in doing so. Shortly, the Common Service ELSI of BBMRI-ERIC will publish a list of FAQs to assist biobanks, biomedical research infrastructures and researchers to comply with the Regulation.

For more information

The text of the General Data Protection Regulation can be downloaded in all EU languages here.

The position paper on the GDPR drafted by BBMRI-ERIC last year can be downloaded here.