EU sets up 'temporary' Covid vaccine export controls

(BRUSSELS) - Vaccine exports outside the EU will be subject to an authorisation by Member States, the European Commission announced Friday, "to ensure timely access to COVID-19 vaccines for all EU citizens".

The EU executive says it has invested large amounts in the development of the production capacity of vaccine developers in the EU. This has been done with the aim to ensure quicker delivery of vaccines to the European citizens, support planning and vaccination strategies with the ultimate goal to protect public health.

It says it is therefore reasonable for the EU to monitor how the funds disbursed under the Advance Purchase Agreements (APA) have been used, especially in a context of potential shortages of essential COVID-19 vaccines. The main purpose is to offer public transparency to the European citizens. The transparency and authorisation system will require companies to notify the Member State authorities about the intention to export vaccines produced in the European Union.

"Protecting the health of our citizens remains our utmost priority, and we must put in place the necessary measures to ensure we achieve this," said EC president Ursula von der Leyen: "This transparency and authorisation mechanism is temporary, and we will of course continue to uphold our commitments towards low and middle income countries."

Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the aim was to provide greater clarity on vaccine production in the EU and their exports, emphasising that a range of exemptions would fully honour humanitarian aid commitments and protect vaccines deliveries to the EU's neighbourhood.

Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides emphasised that the EU had provided "upfront funding to companies to build the necessary manufacturing capacity to produce vaccines, so deliveries can start as soon as they are authorised."

This implementing act, adopted by urgency procedure and published today, provides for authorisations of exports outside the EU of COVID-19 vaccines until the end of March 2021. This scheme only applies to exports from companies with whom the EU has concluded Advance Purchased Agreements.

Based on the previous experience with a similar measure on personal protective equipment in Spring 2020, the Commission says it will assist Member States in setting up the relevant mechanism to ensure a smooth and coordinated implementation of the regulation.

It emphasises that the measure is 'targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary'. It is consistent with the EU's international commitment under the World Trade Organization and the G20, and in line with what the EU has proposed in the context of the WTO trade and health initiative.

Committed to 'international solidarity', the EU is excluding from this scheme vaccine supplies for humanitarian aid or destined to countries under the COVAX facility, as well as gthe EU neighbourhood.

Transparency and authorisation mechanism 
for exports of COVID-19 vaccines - background guide