It will be easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood in the UK.
The British Ministry of Health announced.
So far, men in the country are not allowed to donate blood if they have had sex with another man within the three months before.
This rule should no longer apply in the future.
Instead, it should only be decisive whether a person has had only one sexual partner within three months, it said in the message - regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
The changes would not make donated blood any more unsafe.
When selecting blood donors, a greater focus than before should be placed on risky sexual practices such as chemsex, a form of sexual intercourse under the influence of drugs.
The new regulation should apply from summer 2021.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock spoke of a "groundbreaking change."
With the decision "individuals would be judged according to their actions and not according to their sexual orientation."
In Germany, gay and bisexual men are only allowed to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man within a year.
The German Aidshilfe criticizes this regulation as discriminatory because it practically excludes most homosexual and bisexual men from donating blood.
Icon: The mirror
bbr / dpa