France

The French Blood Establishment (EFS) is a public organization established in January 2000. EFS has the monopoly in France over the collection, testing, preparation and distribution of labile blood products (except for the distribution of plasma since 2015) to some 1900 health care facilities. Voluntary and unpaid donations, high quality blood products self- sufficiency, as well as patient and donor safety are the principles governing blood transfusion in France and  enforced as such by French law and regulations. A majority of recipient blood typing and blood components issuing  in France is carried out directly by EFS. The plasma for fractionation collected and qualified  by EFS is provided to the Laboratoire Français du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies (LFB).
EFS comprises one national headquarter and 13 regional establishments  (10 in mainland France,  1 in the Martinique, 1 in Guadeloupe-Guyana, 1 in Réunion island, also serving Mayotte), headed by directors appointed by the President of EFS and acting by delegation from him with  regard to management and operations. EFS headquarter is in charge of overall strategic management of the establishment, operations coordination, medical and scientific matters, quality management, human resources, purchasing, finances, communication, information technology, legal affairs and technical services. The priorities of the national EFS quality policy comprise i) self-sufficiency and quality and safety of labile blood products and services for the patients and donors , ii) staff adequacy and skills and iii) overall efficiency.

Aside from the core transfusion activities, EFS carries out the following associated activities: immunegenetics, tissue and cell engineering, advanced therapy medicinal products, reagent manufacturing, research, training and education.