From the article and comments in this thread it seems that:
- The AstraZeneca didn't sought approval of the Halix plant, approval seems to be a fast process.
- They seem to be meant for export.
Which makes me wonder if maybe all of the Halix plant production is meant for export (speculation 1) and if maybe they intentionally didn't seek approval of the plant because of reasons like this making all vaccines produced there "not valid for consumption in EU" and (maybe, speculation 2) "not neccessary to be listed when reporting to the EU" and (maybe, speculation 3) "not affected by any export controls because they are not valid vaccines".
Be aware that I think speculation 1 is likely but 2 and 3 get increasingly less likely. It can be as simple as saving a buck by avoiding regulative control on a plant which isn't meant to produce for the countries doing the regulation anyway.
only one of the five vaccine-production plants listed in the EU contract with AstraZeneca was delivering vaccines to the EU.
The contract lists two factories in Britain, one in the Netherlands (Halix), one in Belgium. Another one in the United States is listed as a back-up supplier. Currently, only the plant in Belgium, run by Thermo Fisher Scientific, is producing shots for the EU.
The Commission has also started a procedure foreseen under the contract with AstraZeneca that could lead to legal action against the company.
- The AstraZeneca didn't sought approval of the Halix plant, approval seems to be a fast process.
- They seem to be meant for export.
Which makes me wonder if maybe all of the Halix plant production is meant for export (speculation 1) and if maybe they intentionally didn't seek approval of the plant because of reasons like this making all vaccines produced there "not valid for consumption in EU" and (maybe, speculation 2) "not neccessary to be listed when reporting to the EU" and (maybe, speculation 3) "not affected by any export controls because they are not valid vaccines".
Be aware that I think speculation 1 is likely but 2 and 3 get increasingly less likely. It can be as simple as saving a buck by avoiding regulative control on a plant which isn't meant to produce for the countries doing the regulation anyway.