Story highlights The FDA is reconsidering its restrictions on blood donations from gay men

The agency is seeking comment from the public on its blood donation policy

(CNN) The Food and Drug Administration is officially reconsidering its blood donation policy, which currently restricts men who have had sex with other men in the past year from giving blood.

As part of this reassessment, the agency put out a formal request for public comment in the Federal Register on Tuesday, asking people to submit ideas on what other blood donor policies could look like.

"Specifically, the FDA invites comments on the feasibility of moving from the existing time-based deferrals related to risk behaviors to alternate deferral options, such as the use of individual risk assessment. The agency also invites comments regarding the design of potential studies to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of such alternative deferral options," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in an emailed statement to CNN on Wednesday.

"The FDA will carefully consider all of the information submitted as it determines the appropriate next steps, and we will continue to review the agency's donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge," he said. "We are committed to obtaining the needed scientific evidence to move to alternative donor assessment strategies in the future."

What the current policy says