By 30 days: Medical devices: EU extends export restrictions

In the Corona crisis, the EU is extending its export restrictions on medical equipment, but at the same time easing them. The countries of the Western Balkans will in future be exempted from the restrictions, as the European Commission announced in Brussels on Friday.

In addition, the list of products concerned has been reduced. In future, the restrictions on face masks, goggles and protective clothing would apply.

The restrictions were introduced in mid-March. This means that the other EU countries must allow the export of medical equipment to countries outside the EU. This was initially to apply for six weeks, so it would expire at the end of the week. The new rules are initially scheduled for 30 days. There will also be exceptions for exports to Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

At the beginning of the Corona crisis, Germany had caused resentment in the other EU states by going it alone. In order to secure protective clothing for German needs, Berlin had issued an export ban at the beginning of March, with a few exceptions.