Biobanks and GDPR: A Look at the Portuguese Panorama

Abstract

The need for the existence of biobanks for health research purposes is something of which government authorities have been aware for several years. One year after the full entry into force of the GDPR, the Portuguese legislature has finally passed the law that ensures the full implementation of the data protection regime’s points left open by the European legislature. However, Portugal has also in place a range of legislation regulating the establishment and functioning of biobanks. The regulation of biobanks for research purposes imposes special protection duties on scientific research activity in which biological samples and associated data are used in order to guarantee protection of privacy and confidentiality.