International Health Regulations (IHR)

New Zealand took part in the negotiation of the IHR, which were agreed to at the World Health Assembly on 23 May 2005. In 2006, the New Zealand government agreed to implement the IHR which came into force in June 2007.

Many commitments which later formed part of the IHR were already part of legislation or practice before the IHR was developed. Border agencies continue to carry out these commitments today including border controls on arriving:

• ships
• aircraft
• travellers
• cargo.

New Zealand meets the requirements of the IHR through a mix of legislation and administration. 

Aim and scope of the IHR

The IHR aims to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease. Public health responses must be in proportion to the public health risk and avoid unnecessary disruption to international travel and trade.

The IHR:

• covers existing and new diseases – including diseases caused by non-infectious diseases such as radiation or chemical spills, pests or vectors
• focuses on rapid response, containing diseases at their source, and controlling disease spread at international borders
• requires countries to have core capacities in place for disease surveillance and response
• requires countries to have core border health capacities at their designated international airports and ports
  Capacity requirements for international points of entry
• requires countries to nominate National Focal Points to be formal communication channels between other countries and the WHO — the office of the director of public health in the Ministry of Health is the National Focal Point
• recognises that countries can apply range of public health actions, measures, and documentation requirements to manage public health risks from international travellers, goods, cargo and conveyances, and the ports and airports that they use. These include providing facilities, services, inspections, quarantine, treatment, and applying a range of control activities
• establishes a framework for countries to identify, assess, notify, verify and report events could be a public health emergency of international concern.

The IHR include a decision‑making tool to help countries assess these events. WHO also provides guidance on how to use this tool.

Annex 2 of the International Health Regulations (2005)external link