International Health Regulations and chemical events

In 2005, the World Health Assembly 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. The revised IHR (2005) cover all diseases and events of international public health concern, including those linked to chemicals such as chemical events arising from technological incidents, natural disasters, conflict and terrorism or other scenarios where disease outbreaks are or suspected to be related to chemical exposure.

WHO develops and enhances tools, guidance and other support to countries, in order to strengthen core capacities for chemical incidents and emergencies, and promote awareness among all stakeholders, including guidance for the establishment of new and strengthening of existing poison centres.

WHO maintains functions to rapidly detect, verify/assess, alert and respond to chemical events of international public health concern as part of the revised International Health Regulations, including building an international health workforce to be mobilised to respond to chemical emergencies.

WHO maintains the INTOX network which links together more than 200 specialists in over 75 countries. Members work in poisons centres, clinical treatment units, analytical toxicology laboratories and chemical incident response services.