EU proposes vaccine controls as 'raid' in Italy uncovers millions of AstraZeneca doses

The European Union proposed tighter controls on the export of Covid-19 vaccine doses on Wednesday, marking the latest spat between the bloc and the British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca.

The new export controls put forward by the European Commission would govern exports of Covid-19 vaccine from the EU based on the destination country's rate of vaccinations and vaccine exports. The measure is the Commission's latest effort to safeguard supplies for its citizens, following AstraZeneca's shortfall in delivering doses to the bloc -- despite contractual obligations -- whilst continuing to meet the UK's targets.