(1)

On 30 January 2021, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 (2) making the exportation of COVID-19 vaccines as well as active substances, including master and working cell banks, used to manufacture these vaccines, subject to the production of an export authorisation, pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2015/479. At the end of the six weeks period following the date of entry into force of those measures, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442 (3) making the exportation of the same products subject to an export authorisation until 30 June 2021, pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2015/479.

(2)

On 24 March 2021, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 (4) introducing, as an additional factor to be taken into consideration when considering granting an export authorisation, the need to consider whether this authorisation does not pose a threat to the security of supply within the Union of the goods covered by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442. By the same Implementing Regulation, the exemption of certain destination countries from the scope of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442 was also temporarily suspended.

(3)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 was adopted pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2015/479 and applies for a maximum period of six weeks.

(4)

Despite an acceleration of vaccination across the Union, the pandemic remains severe and the conditions described in the recitals of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 still persist.

(5)

The specific arrangements introduced by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 should therefore continue to apply until 30 June 2021.

(6)

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (the EEA EFTA States) participate in the Union’s internal market in accordance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Most exports to the EEA EFTA States consist of vaccine procured by a Member State pursuant to an Advance Purchasing Agreement concluded by the Union and resold to those countries. On the basis of the information gathered through the application of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 there is no indication that exports are being channelled through the EEA EFTA States to other countries not exempted from the export authorization mechanism pursuant to Article 1(9) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442. Therefore, it is not necessary to continue the suspension of the exemption from that mechanism with regard to exports to the EEA EFTA States.

(7)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 should therefore be amended accordingly and the amendment apply immediately.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/479,

(1)

in Article 1, the second paragraph is replaced by the following:

‘However, the suspension shall not apply to the following countries and territories:

(2)

in Article 3, the second paragraph is replaced by the following:

‘It shall apply until 30 June 2021.’.