The list was first compiled by the WTO Secretariat as a working document to facilitate discussions at the WTO COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Regulatory Transparency Symposium that took place on 29 June 2021. At that event, representatives of the medical and pharmaceutical industry, international organizations and the WTO Secretariat explored ways to enhance their cooperation in bringing about practical solutions to scale up the global COVID-19 response.

The revised version of the list incorporates feedback received from industry and reflects 13 new critical inputs that were identified. These are mostly products relevant for the process of vaccine manufacturing such as consumables and specific equipment. In addition, the revision updates the indicative tariff codes to take into account the introduction of the changes resulting from the Harmonized System (HS) 2022 version.   

The list is purely indicative and subject to further clarification, modification and improvement based on inputs by pharma and customs experts. The list has no legal status and is without prejudice to the rights and obligations of WTO members, as well as to the actual tariff classification assigned by WTO members' customs administrations at the time of importation.

The “Joint Indicative List of Critical COVID-19 Vaccine Inputs for Consultation” can be downloaded here.