Canada is lifting the lifetime ban on blood donation by gay men, though serious restrictions will remain in place.

Canadian Blood Services says men who have not had sex with other men within the last five years will be allowed to donate blood when the new policy comes into effect this summer.

Agency executive Dr. Dana Devine acknowledges some people will feel that the deferral period is too long, but she says the agency will review it over time.

A number of other countries already allow gay men to give blood, and some use a shorter deferral period than Canada has settled on.

In Britain and Australia, gay men who haven't had sex with other men for at least a year are eligible to give blood and in South Africa the deferral period is six months.

Those who had been campaigning for Canada to drop its lifetime ban had been advocating for a period of 12 months.

"We recognize that many people will feel that this change does not go far enough, but given the history of the blood system in Canada, we see this as a first and prudent step forward on this policy," said Devine, who is vice-president of medical, scientific and research affairs at Canadian Blood Services.

"It's the right thing to do and we are committed to regular review of this policy as additional data emerge and new technologies are implemented."

The shadow of Canada's tainted blood scandal has loomed over discussions to change the blood donation policy, discussions which have dragged on over years. In 1980s, before the Red Cross began to test donated blood for HIV, hundreds of Canadians were infected with HIV and-or hepatitis C.

On the recommendation of the Krever inquiry, a Royal Commission into the affair, the Red Cross was stripped of responsibility for Canada's blood supply. Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec were set up to take over the task.