The Latvian Parliament (Saeima) has adopted the Biobanks Law in its final reading, establishing a unified legal framework for the operation of biobanks in Latvia and promoting the development of research and the implementation of precision medicine.
The Biobanks Law has been developed to provide clear rules governing the collection, storage and use of human biological samples and related data for scientific and medical purposes. Until now, Latvia lacked a single regulatory framework in this area, which complicated biomedical research and international cooperation.
The law sets out the principles for establishing and operating biobanks and introduces strict requirements for data protection, ethical standards and the safeguarding of donors’ rights. It places particular emphasis on informed and dynamic consent, ensuring that individuals retain control over how their biological samples are used in research.
Biobanks will enable healthcare institutions and research organisations to collaborate more closely, drive innovation and encourage greater patient participation in research.
This, in turn, will facilitate the development of new treatments, diagnostic solutions and medicines, while also improving public health outcomes.
The implementation of the Biobanks Law is a key prerequisite for the sustainable development of Latvia’s health data ecosystem. It will ensure high standards of data quality, security and usability at both national and international levels, while strengthening Latvia’s competitiveness in biomedicine and innovation.
