European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW)

Establishment of a Network of Ever-warm Production Capacities for Vaccines and Therapeutics manufacturing (EU FAB)

The COVID-19 pandemic showed the challenges for existing EU facilities to ramp-up their production. Thus, as part of strengthening the Health Union, for future health crises the EU must be better prepared and guarantee quicker access to sufficient manufacturing capacities for vaccines and therapeutics, to respond to EU needs and to fulfil our global obligations. As announced in the Communication on the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority on 16 September 2021, the Commission will set-up EU FAB, a network of ever-warm, single and/or multi-technology production capacities for vaccines and therapeutics. It will ensure heightened supply in case of a surge in demand due to public health emergencies, by reducing the time needed between development and industrial scale-up, and provide for solid supply chains thereto. If needed, access and use can be activated and made available. During ‘non-crisis’ times, these facilities are used for their regular activities.