The Russian media reported in late May the Federal Customs Service (FTS) had suspended the export of human clinical specimens over bioterrorism concerns, saying the move could affect patients in Russia. The service denied the reports.
"An instruction setting out procedures for shipping human biomaterials abroad, signed by FTS head Andrei Belyaninov and drafted in cooperation with the Health Ministry, was dispatched to customs offices today," a source said, giving no further details.
He said the new rules would not affect patients.
The Kommersant daily suggested May 30 the FTS had suspended the exports over suspicions that biological samples were being used in medical centers abroad to develop genetic, "ethnically oriented" weapons.
Medical institutions in Russia criticized the decision as a blow to patients and joint research projects, including in genetic engineering. A large number of clinical trials for Russian patients have been conducted abroad, for example in Germany, for bone marrow donors.
