Australia is seeking assurances from the European Union’s executive arm that future shipments of vaccines will not be blocked, after Italy banned a large export of the AstraZeneca coronavirus shots.

The shipment to Australia of more than a quarter-million doses was blocked from leaving the 27-nation bloc, the first use of an export control system instituted by the EU to make sure big pharma companies respect their EU contracts. The ban was requested by Italian authorities and approved by the EU in a move that frustrated the Australian government.