Belgium Demands 170 Million Zloty Tax from Poland in Pfizer Vaccine Dispute

Poland has received a demand from Belgium for nearly 170 million zloty (approximately 39.5 million euros) in registration tax. This payment is linked to a court case concerning undelivered COVID-19 vaccines ordered from Pfizer BioNTech.

The Brussels court initially ruled on April 1 that Poland must pay for the undelivered vaccine doses, totaling approximately 1.3 billion euros. Poland has announced its intention to appeal this ruling. The recent demand from Belgium represents a 3% registration tax on the principal amount awarded by the court, according to Belgian regulations.

In addition to the tax, Belgium has also requested administrative and bailiff costs, bringing the total demand to approximately 168.34 million zloty. Poland has contested this obligation, asserting that foreign states may be exempt from such registration fees under Belgian law. The Ministry of Health has lodged a diplomatic note questioning the validity of the tax and is awaiting a response regarding potential exemptions.