I would like to update the House that the UK Government have accepted the amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005, which were agreed by countries at the World Health Assembly on 1 June 2024.
The IHRs are an important, legally binding technical framework that helps to prevent and protect against the international spread of disease. The existing IHRs, agreed to in 2005, have helped the UK to prevent, detect and respond to global health emergencies such as Ebola and avian influenza by giving the UK timely access to verified information not in the public domain, helping us to mount a rapid and appropriate public health response.
The amendments to the IHRs, agreed at the WHA on 1 June 2024, aim to reflect lessons learned from recent global health emergencies, such as the covid-19 pandemic, including by improving information sharing and collaboration for public health emergency response. On 19 September 2024, the World Health Organisation’s director general formally notified all states parties of the official amendments adopted by the WHA. From that date of notification, the UK had 10 months in which to complete the domestic review of IHR amendments and then notify the WHO director general on whether the UK wished to reject or reserve on any or all of the amendments by 19 July 2025. The amendments, all of which are adopted, will come into force for the UK in September 2025.
Department of Health and Social Care officials led work across Government to confirm the implications of the amendments for the UK. Officials also worked with their counterparts in the devolved Administrations and in our overseas territories and Crown dependencies to ensure that all relevant territories are considered. This analysis concluded that the amendments are in the national interest of the UK and informed the decision to accept all of the amendments. Acceptance of, and compliance with, the amendments does not impact the UK’s right to make domestic decisions on national measures concerning public health. The analysis found that where the amendments placed new obligations on the UK and other member states, the UK is already compliant with all but three areas. To be compliant with these amendments, the UK will:
Designate the UK Health Security Agency as the national IHR authority to oversee overall implementation of the IHR and ensure co-ordination within the UK;
Factor the new tier of alert “pandemic emergency” into domestic pandemic preparedness planning across Government, the devolved Governments, the Crown dependencies and the UK overseas territories; and
Provide representation for the UK on the WHO member state-led IHR implementation committee and provide representation, as required, on the technical sub-committee of the implementation committee.
Please be assured that respect for member state sovereignty is an underlying principle of the IHR, and at no point during negotiations about the amendments were there proposals that would give the WHO powers to impose domestic decisions on the UK, such as those regarding lockdowns, mandatory vaccinations, mask wearing or border restrictions. While the WHO director general may make recommendations on international responses following the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern or a pandemic emergency, these recommendations are non-binding and it is for member states to determine their domestic response.
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