The government requested the European Union (EU) to promptly permit the export of the vaccine so that the supply and demand of the vaccine for Corona 19 would be smoothly carried out around the world. /Photo = EPA
On the 19th, the government requested the European Union (EU) to promptly permit the export of vaccines so that the supply and demand of vaccines for novel coronavirus infections (Corona 19) would be smoothly carried out around the world.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it held the ‘9th Korea-EU FTA Medicines and Medical Device Working Group’ meeting on this day and requested prompt export permission so that there would be no disruption in the supply and demand of vaccines produced in the EU among the vaccines purchased by the Korean government.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy emphasized that in response to Corona 19, Korea and the EU should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and continue to make efforts to facilitate trade in essential medical supplies. Specifically, they requested that the EU’s’Corona 19 Vaccine Export Permit System’ and the’Digital Green Certificate System’ do not lead to restrictions on trade and movement.
Currently, vaccine-producing companies in the EU must obtain export licenses from member states and the EU Commission when exporting outside the country, and requested that this process be expedited. The’Vaccination Certificate’ is issued to EU residents who have been vaccinated or recently tested negative in a diagnostic test.
In addition, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy requested that the KF94 mask be cooperated to be included as a wearable mask in the EU. Some EU member states such as Germany and France are obligated to wear masks in public places and are imposing a fine for not wearing them, but some countries (states) do not include KF94 masks in the wearable masks.
In addition, it is proposed to upgrade the temporary confidentiality agreement for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines concluded in June to a formal agreement to enable constant and stable information exchange, and to expand the entry of Korean medical products into the EU market, insurance payments for expensive pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They also delivered an opinion to actively provide relevant information such as female and follow-up management plans.
The two sides plan to develop the issues discussed on the day and make efforts to achieve results at the Korea-EU FTA trade committee to be held in Brussels next month.
Bobae Lee, guest reporter at Hankyung.com [email protected]
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