Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 making the exportation of certain products subject to the production of an export authorisation

Summary:

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 - adopted by the European Commission on 30 January 2021 - putting in place a measure requiring vaccine exports to be subject to an authorisation by Member States.

Further information:

The objective of this measure is to ensure timely access to COVID-19 vaccines for all EU citizens and following concerns over the lack of transparency around the ways some companies are operating when it comes to vaccine exports outside the European Union. The European Commission has argued that, considering the investment from the EU to support the rapid development and production of several vaccines, it needs to ensure companies fulfil their contractual commitments.

This Implementing Regulation is a temporary export transparency and export authorisation mechanism on the basis of Regulation 2015/479 on common rules for exports. This measure was introduced in the context of the vaccination rollout across the European Union (EU) and the announcement of delays in delivering a number of vaccine doses.

• Primary Source

News

Reuters, 29/01/2021: EU sets vaccine export controls until end-March https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N2K469Q

Deutsche Welle, 29/01/2021: Coronavirus: EU introduces tighter rules on vaccine exports https://p.dw.com/p/3obCy

Swissinfo.ch, 29/01/2021: Swiss exempt from EU vaccine export controls https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-exempt-from-eu-vaccine-export-controls/46329832

RTÉ News, 29/01/2021: EU setting up system to allow possible ban of vaccine exports https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0129/1193936-eu-vaccine-exports/

EurActiv, 29/01/2021: EU tightens controls on vaccine exports, leaves door open for bans https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/eu-tightens-controls-on-vaccine-exports-leaves-door-open-for-bans/

The Guardian, 29/01/2021: EU leaves UK off exempt list for tighter vaccine export controls https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/29/astrazenecas-vaccine-duty-eu-ursula-von-der-leyen

Associated Press, 30/01/2021: EU tightens vaccine export rules, creates post-Brexit outcry https://apnews.com/article/19edc409c6f6a1bd31b69f58f5e1a0a6

BBC News, 31/01/2021: Coronavirus: WHO criticises EU over vaccine export controls https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55860540

EUObserver, 01/02/2021: EU controls vaccine exports, as AstraZeneca jab approved https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/150773

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Official

European Commission: Press Release, 29/01/2021: Commission puts in place transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_307

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines (29 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_308

European Commission: Opening remarks by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides at the press conference on the transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines (29 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_311

European Commission: Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis at the press conference on the transparency and authorisation mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines (29 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_312

European Commission: Commission statement on the vaccine export authorisation scheme (29 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_314

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ESO Records

COVID-19 vaccination rollout across Europe https://www.europeansources.info/record/covid-19-vaccination-rollout-across-europe/

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