The European Commission has just released details of its new transparency mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines. More on the new regs here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_307

"This measure is targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary. It is fully consistent with the EU's international commitment under the World Trade Organization and the G20, and in line with what the EU has proposed in the context of the WTO trade and health initiative."

"Committed to international solidarity, the EU excluded from this scheme vaccine supplies for humanitarian aid or destined to countries under the COVAX facility, as well as our neighbourhood."

Q&A is here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_308
Regs are here:
https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2021/january/tradoc_159398.pdf

Indeed, this is a short-term measure. Only applies to Q1 shipments:
"This measure applies from 30 January 2021 and runs until 31 March 2021."

But later in the doc, it says these regs can be extended past the end of March. So maybe not just for six weeks.

Not terribly reassuring for Canada:

Q: What if third country has an APA with a manufacturer in the EU?

The Commission is mindful of APAs contracted by third countries, and will endeavour to ensure that the expectations of these countries to obtain their deliveries will be met.

I don't see anything in these regs exempting Canada or other countries with FTAs with the EU from having their shipments monitored and caught up in the fresh red tape of these new authorization requirements. Disappointment for Trudeau and Ng who reached out directly this week?

Given that the Pfizer plant from which Canada's vaccines come is in Belgium, we need more info on what this means, stat:

"So far, only Belgium has notified an emergency measure.
We strongly discourage to take national measures."

Pouring over the regs right now trying to figure out if emergency measure=ability to block shipments until it feels its own citizens have enough vaccines.
(Also: The irony of it being Belgium potentially thwarting Canada's vaccine needs is not lost on this CETA reporter...)

UPDATE:
I am told that the criteria for whether a country like Belgium can block a shipment or not is... whether that shipment is a threat to the company delivering on the EU's contract for the same time period.
This feels like a big problem for Canada...

If production was on schedule and everyone's deliveries were coming as expected Canada would be okay.
But it isn't. And European countries are upset about that.
With this measure, EU has power to make Canada wait to get its shipments until the EU is satisfied its contract is met.