International Health Regulations and chemical events

Overview

In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States adopted the revised International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). The Regulations provide a unique public health framework in the form of obligations and recommendations that enable countries to better prevent, prepare for and respond to public health events and emergencies of potential international concern, including chemical events.

The goals of this document are: (i) to provide information about building IHR (2005) core capacities for chemical events; (ii) to assist National IHR Focal Points (NFPs) to identify national institutions having a role in the management of chemicals; (iii) to raise awareness about the IHR (2005) in professionals who have a role in the management of chemicals under various regulatory contexts but who are not familiar with the IHR (2005); and (iv) to provide information to facilitate an interministerial approach for the management of chemical events, including building synergies in the implementation of relevant international agreements.