Procedural and technical requirements for requesting access to the antigens, vaccines and diagnostic reagents from the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks
Article 8
1. The Commission shall grant Member States access to the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks upon their written request. 2. The Commission shall, within the limits of availability of stocks of the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks, immediately arrange for the shipment of the required quantities and types of vaccines or diagnostic reagents, taking into account the criteria laid down in Article 49(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and the additional criteria for the distribution of the required quantities and types of vaccines set out in Annex VI to this Regulation. 3. Member States that maintain national antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks or Member States that are associated to an international antigen and vaccine bank shall have the same rights and obligations with regard to the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks as other Member States that do not have a national antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent bank or access to an international antigen and vaccine bank. 4. Where it is in the interest of the Union, the Commission may supply or lend, following their request, to third countries or territories, antigens, vaccines or diagnostic reagents from the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks. 5. Access of third countries and territories to the Union antigen, vaccine and diagnostic reagent banks shall be granted under detailed conditions agreed between the Commission and the third country or territory concerned.