Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of
Health and Social Care (): I would like to
update the House regarding the most recent round of negotiations
on the legally binding international agreement on pandemic
prevention, preparedness and response – the Pandemic Accord – at
the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the outcome of
negotiations to agree targeted amendments to the International
Health Regulations (IHR). The most recent round of Pandemic
Accord negotiations took place 4 – 15 November.
Pandemic Accord Negotiations:
As outlined in my statement of 9 September 2024, infectious
diseases do not respect borders. The risk of another pandemic is
very real – a question of “when” rather than “if”. All countries
would benefit from strengthening our collective ability to
prevent, prepare for and respond to the next pandemic threat. The
Pandemic Accord is an important opportunity to establish a
framework for a comprehensive new global approach to pandemic
prevention, preparedness and response.
Co-operation with countries around the world does not compromise
our sovereignty; it strengthens our security and no amendments to
the Accord have been proposed or agreed that would give the WHO
powers to impose domestic public health decisions on the UK. The
UK Government remains committed to negotiating a Pandemic Accord
that enhances UK and global health security and is firmly in the
UK's national interest.
Member states of the WHO have until the World Health Assembly
(WHA) in May 2025 to reach an agreement on the Pandemic Accord,
following an extension agreed at the WHA in May 2024. Member
States have reached provisional agreement on over 70% of the
text, while negotiating on the principle that ‘nothing is agreed
until everything is agreed'. At the latest round of negotiations,
provisional agreement was reached on the issues of regulatory
systems strengthening, and sustainable and geographically
diversified local production.
On Monday November 11, a discussion was held by Member States on
whether to call a special session of the WHA in December with the
aim of agreeing the Accord before the new year. Given the number
of outstanding issues on which consensus is yet to be found,
including on prevention, One Health, technology transfer, the
pathogen access and benefit sharing mechanism, and the legal form
and status of the Accord, Member States chose not to call a
special session in December. However, the Government remains
committed to working with others to secure an effective agreement
as soon as possible and will continue to work towards the May
2025 deadline, with the option to conclude negotiations earlier
if this is deemed feasible while still delivering a good
agreement.
As negotiations continue, we will keep working closely with the
Devolved Administrations, Crown Dependencies, and the Overseas
Territories to ensure the process reflects their interests, and
we will keep engaging with civil society organisations,
institutions, academia, and the private sector. The latest public
version of the text and other relevant documents can be found
online here: https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/index.html(opens
in a new tab).
The International Health Regulations (2005)
(IHR):
The IHR are an important, legally binding technical framework
that helps to prevent and protect against the international
spread of disease. Amendments to the IHR, were agreed by
countries at the World Health Assembly that took place from 27
May to 1 June 2024. The amendments aimed 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 WHO Director General formally notified all
States Parties of the official amendments adopted by the WHA.
From this date of notification, the UK has 10 months to complete
the domestic review of IHR amendments and then notify the WHO
Director General whether we wish to reject or reserve on any or
all the amendments by 19 July 2025. Adopted amendments (that we
have not rejected) would then come into force for the UK in
September 2025.
DHSC officials have been leading work across Government to
confirm the implications of the amendments for the UK. Officials
are also working with their counterparts in the Devolved
Administrations, our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
to ensure all relevant territories are considered. This analysis
will inform the decision about which amendments are in the UK's
national interest and whether we wish to reject or reserve on any
or all of them before the July 2025 deadline. No decision has yet
been made.
In parallel with the approach to the Pandemic Accord
negotiations, respect for each country's sovereignty has been a
fundamental element of the IHR amendments. The UK Government will
of course only formally adopt amendments to the IHR that are in
the UK national interest.
The latest available full text of the agreed IHR amendments can
be found online here: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA77/A77_ACONF14-en.pdf(opens
in a new tab).
Given the significance of the Pandemic Accord negotiations, the
IHR amendments, and their potential to make our country stronger
and safer, I am committed to keeping the House updated at
relevant and important junctures.
