On 15 march 2020, the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/402 of 14 March 2020 making the exportation of certain products subject to the production of an export authorisation was published on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ L 77 I/1 of 15/03/2020).
The act imposes the requirement for an export authorisation for the export outside the Union of personal protective equipment listed in Annex I, whether or not originating in the Union.
Such authorisation shall be granted by the competent authorities of the Member State where the exporter is established and shall be issued in writing or by electronic means.
Annex I of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402 lists protective equipment primarily needed to counter the spread of the current epidemiological crisis caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the associated disease COVID-19.
The targeted categories of items are the following:
The EU measure aims to remedy and prevent a critical situation of shortage of these equipment in some Member States, by ensuring adequacy of supply in the Union and meet the vital demand.