Council Directive (EU) 2020/2020 of 7 December 2020

What it is

to amend the VAT Directive to ensure more affordable access in the EU to supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in response to the pandemic. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the aim of the Union's strategy on COVID-19 vaccines is to accelerate the development, manufacture and deployment of vaccines against the virus in order to help protect people in the Union. An effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine is considered the most likely durable solution to the pandemic. However, the development and deployment of COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic medical devices remain crucial. The current VAT rules allow partly alleviating the cost of COVID-19 vaccination and testing. However, they do not permit the application of a zero rate to such vaccines and services closely linked thereto. Likewise, they do not permit the application of either a reduced or a zero rate to in vitro diagnostic medical devices, including services closely related to them. The European Parliament adopted by 684 votes to 5, with 5 abstentions, under a special legislative procedure (consultation), a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 2006/112/EC as regards temporary measures in relation to value added tax for COVID-19 vaccines and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parliament approved the Commission's proposal without amendment. The proposal aims to amend the VAT Directive to ensure more affordable access to supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and in vitro diagnostic medical devices in response to COVID-19 in Europe. It would allow Member States to: - temporarily exempt from value added tax (VAT) the supply of vaccines against COVID-19 and in vitro diagnostic medical devices (test kits) for this disease, as well as services closely related to these vaccines and devices; - apply a reduced rate of VAT to COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic medical devices and services closely related to them, as is already the case for vaccines.

Frequently asked

In scope for these industries