Health agencies still require electronic certificates for signing COVID Passports as well as other medical certificates.
European health regulations have been changing as progress has been made in the vaccination and immunization of citizens, to be reflected in the technical requirements of COVID passports.
One of the requirements was that the Ministries of Health and Defense and the Health Departments of the Autonomous Communities should have electronic certificates based on ECC cryptography to sign COVID passports.
In Spain they were qualified electronic certificates of organ seal issued with a duration of 2 years, but they could only be used for electronic seals during the first 6 months.
The standard currently under preparation “COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on accession to the global digital health certification network established by the World Health Organization and temporary arrangements to facilitate international travel in view of the expiry of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council” states:
“Each Member State must issue a new digital signature certificate with the highest possible technical validity and register it in the EU gateway before the expiration of Regulation (EU) 2021/953.”
Although the Recommendation has not yet been officially approved, given the short time available, it is advisable to hurry to obtain these certificates as soon as possible.
As EADTrust is the Qualified Certification Services Provider that issues these certificates in Spain, we are disseminating this alert so that health organizations can take it into account in their forecasts.