(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, for a period of six weeks. Hereafter, on 12 March 2021, 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 when considering granting an export authorisation, the need to assess whether such 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 Regulation, the Commission decided on a temporary suspension of the exemption of certain destination countries from the scope of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 was adopted pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2015/479 and applied for a period of six weeks. The measures introduced by that Regulation were subsequently extended until 30 June 2021 by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/734 (5).

(4)

Vaccine production capacity in the Union has stepped up in the meantime, resulting in an increase of deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine doses in the Union. This led to an acceleration of the vaccination campaign in the Union.

(5)

This vaccination campaign is however still on-going and uncertainties remain, in particular with the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus. There is therefore a continuing need for transparency of export deliveries and Union supplies.

(6)

The risk that exports would threaten either the execution of the Advance Purchase Agreements between the Union and the vaccine manufacturers or the security of Union supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and their active substances also still persists.

(7)

Measures introduced by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/442 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/521 should therefore continue to apply until 30 September 2021. Those Regulations should therefore be amended accordingly.

(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,