"EU Approves All Applied COVID-19 Vaccine Exports"

All 27 Applications Approved for Export
WHO Expresses Concern Over Potential Restrictions on Smooth Vaccine Movement

Stella Kyriakides, European Union (EU) Commissioner for Health
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The European Union (EU) announced that it has approved all 27 applications submitted so far for the export of COVID-19 vaccines.

On the 11th, Bloomberg reported that the EU executive body, the European Commission, has approved all applications to date under the recently introduced COVID-19 vaccine export authorization system.

Following the approval last week of four vaccine shipments to Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, the EU Commission recently approved 23 additional vaccine export applications. The recent approvals include exports to Australia, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, amid growing concerns over vaccine shortages and slow vaccination rates within the region, the EU introduced a system on the 30th of last month requiring pharmaceutical companies to obtain member state approval before exporting COVID-19 vaccines produced within the EU outside the bloc. Accordingly, pharmaceutical companies must notify member states in advance of new export plans, including destinations and quantities. If the set criteria are not met, member states can block the exports.

On the 10th, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated, "We have no intention of restricting companies that honor their contracts with the EU," adding, "Europe is always ready to help, but we also demand our fair share." However, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concerns that such measures could hinder the free movement of ingredients necessary for producing vaccines and other medicines.

Meanwhile, the EU Commission has secured 2.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines through contracts with various pharmaceutical companies, covering vaccines already approved or under development. Among these, three vaccines have been authorized for use within the EU: the Pfizer vaccine developed by the US and Germany's BioNTech, the US Moderna vaccine, and the UK AstraZeneca vaccine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.