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  • Vaccines: The European Medicines Agency recommends the authorization of the AstraZeneca anticovid vaccine

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The European Commission has dubbed it a "transparency and authorization mechanism" and prohibits, from this week, the export of vaccines outside the EU without prior authorization.

Brussels insists over and over again that "it is not an export ban mechanism" and that the blockade is expected in very few or no cases, but ultimately, in "extreme conditions",

the 27 will be able to prevent the exit of doses of vaccines

against Covid-19.

"The pandemic is having devastating effects in Europe. Protecting the health of our citizens remains our top priority and we must put in place the necessary measures to ensure that we achieve this. This transparency and authorization mechanism is temporary and of course, We will continue to fulfill our commitments to low- and middle-income countries, "said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

"This specific and time-limited system covers only Covid-19 vaccines that were agreed through advance purchase agreements with the EU. The aim is to provide greater clarity on the production of vaccines in the EU and their exports, as transparency has missed and is vital, "added Vice President Valdis DOmbrovskis.

From now on, and until March 31 at the latest, all companies that have signed an Advance Purchased Agreement, a purchase agreement with the EU, and that want to export, will have to comply with a series of procedures and

inform the customs authorities of the affected country

.

The response, says the Commission, should arrive in 48 hours maximum (two working days).

The technicians point out that if the company does the paperwork on time and in advance, everything should work very quickly.

Control of the quantities produced

The best example is, of course, AstraZeneca.

Its vaccine is

already

authorized

but at the same time the EU is clearly denouncing that it does not comply with the agreement.

"When deciding whether to grant an export authorization under this Regulation, Member States, together with the Commission, will assess whether the volume of exports does not pose a threat to the implementation of advance purchase agreements that the EU has concluded with the vaccine manufacturers, "says the text.

From Brussels they assure that there are no political reasons behind, "there is no country or any company in particular" in the target.

That it is not a weapon of negotiation or pressure, but rather a "need to know where the vaccines are and where they are going", as they have invested almost 3,000 million euros from taxpayers.

For this, they will not only request information from the companies, but with their first export request they will have to present all the details of the orders sent abroad from October 29.

"This is not Europe first," they reiterate in reference to the slogan recently popularized by Donald Trump regarding the US.

"There is no race against other countries, only against the virus," said Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.

But few believe it and it would be no surprise if other countries responded the same, after a week full of news,

problems and clashes with AstraZeneca and the United Kingdom

.

92 countries exempted

The EU exempts 92 countries from this procedure, those that are developing, but also European neighbors that are part of the EFTA, the Free Trade Area.

And also to the products of the Covax Alliance, Unicef ​​and PAHO

.

UK, the elephant in the room, is not among those exempt

.

Neither the USA or Canada.

It is not a surprise and Brussels swears and perjures that it is not "retaliation", but all eyes are on London since last week.

The regulation specifies that the situation in Northern Ireland has been taken into account, which after Brexit has a special status.

The game board moves very fast.

This Friday

the EU has made public the contract signed with AstraZeneca

and the European Medicines Agency has approved its vaccine.

The Commission has listened to the demands of the Member States, which asked for a strong hand after verifying that in practice the US or the UK are not allowing doses produced in their countries to be released.

"The regulation is very clear and only in very specific cases can exports be prevented," say European officials.

A series of very specific criteria have been set under a clear prism: to ensure that pharmaceutical companies comply with their contracts.

They don't want randomness, improvisation, or unwarranted bans.

And in case of doubt, the European Commission has to pronounce itself and resolve it, but it could involve an additional 48 hours.

More time is only justified in exceptional cases.

So far Belgium is the only country that has activated emergency measures, but it is a country that has two vital plants for both Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • UK

  • European Comission

  • Europe

  • Ursula von der Leyen

  • London

  • Donald trump

  • Canada

  • Belgium

  • Covid 19

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