EU Tightens Vaccine Export Restrictions... "J&J Also Under Review for Controls"

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The European Union (EU), which is in conflict with the United Kingdom over securing COVID-19 vaccines, is further strengthening controls on vaccine exports outside the region.

According to major foreign media on the 23rd (local time), the EU Commission is scheduled to adopt an amendment on the 24th to tighten export controls to the UK and other countries with high vaccination rates.

This measure targets manufacturers who fail to fulfill their contracted supply volumes within the EU. Similar to how Italy blocked AstraZeneca vaccine exports to Australia earlier this month, manufacturers who fail to meet their supply commitments will no longer be allowed to export vaccines outside the region.

The move is aimed at countries like the UK and the US that produce vaccines domestically but either do not export them or restrict the export of vaccine raw materials. An EU official explained, "The goal is to balance vaccine export and import volumes to make vaccine trade reciprocal and proportional."

Not only AstraZeneca, which triggered conflicts between the EU and Europe, but Johnson & Johnson is also expected to be included. Johnson & Johnson recently notified delays in second-quarter supplies to Europe. An EU official emphasized, "We will not repeat the supply delays like those of AstraZeneca in the first quarter."

However, Pfizer and Moderna are not expected to be affected. Major foreign media reported, "Although both companies supplied vaccines to the EU later than promised, they generally met the contracted first-quarter volumes."

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