International Health Regulations

The current International Health Regulations have been revised by the World Health Organisation and the new regulations came into force on the 15th June 2007. The Department of Health will be responsible for transposing the regulations into UK law and the existing regulations will be replaced.

The International Health Regulations were revised to address limitations in the current IHR(1969) identified through experience in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks with international dimensions.

The focus on just three diseases (cholera, plague and yellow fever) by the IHR(1969) does not address the multiple and varied public health risks that the world faces today. The IHR(2005), broaden the scope of the 1969 Regulations to cover existing, new and re-emerging diseases, including emergencies caused by non-infectious disease agents.

The IHR(2005) establish a legal framework for the rapid gathering of information, for determining when an event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, and for countries seeking international assistance. The new reporting procedures are aimed at expediting the flow of timely and accurate information to WHO about potential public health emergencies of international concern.

More Information
Ship Sanitation Certificates
IHR Training Seminar
World Health Organisation website.

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