“In light of the critical situation of COVID-19 vaccines in the Union, and in particular the risk that vaccines produced or packaged in the Union are exported, especially to non-vulnerable countries, in potential breach of contractual commitments entered into by the pharmaceutical industries, continued protective measures are warranted to prevent shortages and delayed deliveries of such vaccines. It is therefore in the Union’s interest to maintain, for a limited period of time, a mechanism to ensure that exports of COVID-19 vaccines covered by APAs with the Union are subject to a prior authorisation, so that there are adequate supplies in the Union to meet the vital demand, but without impacting on the Union’s international commitments in this respect.”
Extracted from COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/442 of 11 March 2021.
