The Japanese Red Cross Society has asked the health ministry to lift its ban on shipments of blood products, part of which stemmed from blood tainted with type B hepatitis virus, arguing that the virus is removed in the production process, ministry sources said.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry banned shipments of such blood products on Jan. 11 on the grounds it is difficult to evaluate their safety.
However, the Red Cross maintains that their safety is scientifically confirmed, the sources said.