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Billions of Masks Burned in Pandemic Procurement ScandalThree billion of 5.8 billion masks ordered were incinerated unused, costing taxpayers eight million euros in disposal fees.
- Approximately three billion face masks ordered by Jens Spahn during the COVID-19 crisis were discarded unused in incinerators.
- The disposal process cost taxpayers around eight million euros.
- An additional 85 million masks will be destroyed by the end of 2026 due to expiration dates.
- Legal disputes with suppliers have resulted in 360 million masks being stored as evidence in ongoing proceedings.
We will have to forgive each other a lot.— Jens Spahn, then Minister of Health, at the beginning of the Corona crisis.
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Coronavirus pandemic: Most protective masks burned unused: Most of the protective masks ordered by former Health Minister Jens Spahn at the beginning of the ...
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Key FactsMassive Aftermath Costs from Germany's Mask Purchases
Aug 21, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- Jens Spahn acquired 5.7 billion masks for 5.9 billion euros during the pandemic, generating follow-up costs of 516.4 million euros by late 2024.
- Expenses include logistics, quality control, consulting, and legal advice, with nearly 319 million euros spent on storage and disposal alone.
- The health ministry paid 390 million euros in settlements to mask suppliers claiming damages, while court rulings imposed only 110,000 euros in two cases.
- Numerous suppliers still seek up to 2.3 billion euros in damages, with potential enforcement interest adding as much as 1.4 billion euros.
The daily increasing costs for storage, procedures, and consulting have massively accumulated since 2020. Every additional day makes it more expensive and exacerbates the burden on the budget.— Paula Piechotta, budget politician of the Green Party, comments on the follow-up costs of the mask purchases in the 'Tagesspiegel'.
Previous expenditures and outstanding risks: What Jens Spahn's mask procurement is costing taxpayers
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Key FactsPartial Redaction of Mask Procurement Report
Jun 20, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: t-online.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: t-online.de
- Health Minister Nina Warken plans to present the previously confidential mask procurement investigation to the Bundestag's budget committee.
- Certain sections will be redacted due to privacy concerns involving personal employee data and corporate secrets.
- The report addresses allegations of inflated mask prices and preferential treatment of a company linked to former Minister Spahn.
- Spahn claims unfamiliarity with the report but supports its release, a stance also backed by the Green and Left parties.
I have decided to present the report to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag in the coming session week.— Nina Warken, Minister of Health, in an interview with the 'Rheinische Post'.
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Mask affair in the Corona crisis: Warken wants to disclose report on secret mask purchases
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Key FactsSpahn Defends Mask Procurement During Pandemic
Jun 10, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesschau.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesschau.de
- Spahn justified costly mask purchases as necessary due to urgent shortages and lack of alternatives during the pandemic.
- He admitted awarding logistics contracts to the Fiege company from his home region without a competitive tender.
- The politician referenced a special investigator’s report on mask procurement that has been known for several years.
- Spahn expects the health ministry to publish the report transparently and criticized the procurement method in hindsight.
In an emergency, having is more important than needing. It was a century crisis and an exceptional situation. Everything was lacking. Everything was scarce.— Jens Spahn justifies his actions regarding the mask deals during the Corona pandemic.
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