How long does INTERPOL retain Black Notice data if the remains are never identified?

INTERPOL’s data retention rules permit Black Notices to remain active indefinitely while the identification purpose persists, subject to periodic review. The requesting country must confirm continued relevance, typically every five years. However, national forensic authorities may retain associated biological samples and records under their own domestic laws, which vary significantly — some jurisdictions destroy samples after 10–25 years, others retain them permanently. Families seeking removal of a Black Notice after concluding their relative is not the deceased must petition through the originating country’s National Central Bureau rather than directly to INTERPOL.