IHR amendments

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Ref.: C.L.18.2026

International Health Regulations (2005)

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) presents his compliments to States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005) (“IHR”) and has the honour to refer to the amendments to the IHR adopted by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly through resolution WHA77.17 (2024) (“2024 amendments”), the correction procedure regarding the IHR, undertaken in accordance with decision WHA78(24) (2025) and referred to in Circular Letters C.L. 13.2025 and C.L. 36.2025, as well as the amendments to the IHR adopted through resolution WHA75.12 (“2022 amendments”).

1. 2024 amendments

A. Communications received from States Parties In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 63 of the IHR, as amended in 2022, the Federal

Republic of Germany withdrew its rejection1 of the 2024 amendments, through a communication dated 23 February 2026 and received on the same day by the Secretariat. In accordance with the same provision, the 2024 amendments have therefore entered into force with regard to the Federal Republic of Germany as of 23 February 2026.

States Parties to which the 2022 amendments do not apply could notify the Director-General of any rejection or reservation regarding the 2024 amendments no later than 19 March 2026. In this regard, the Director-General has the honour to inform States Parties that the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Zealand and the Slovak Republic rejected the 2024 amendments through communications dated 12 March 2026 and 16 March 2026, and received by the Secretariat on the same days, respectively.

... The above-mentioned communications are enclosed with this Circular Letter.

B. Absence of objections to reservations As stated in Circular Letter C.L. 26.2025, States Parties to which the 2022 amendments do

not apply could submit objections to the reservations submitted by the Holy See and Switzerland in respect of the 2024 amendments no later than 8 February 2026.

Pursuant to paragraph 5 of Article 62 of the IHR, the Director-General wishes to inform States Parties that no objections were received by the above-mentioned deadline from States Parties to which the 2022 amendments do not apply.

1 The rejection, dated 10 July 2025, had been communicated on 8 August 2025 through Circular Letter

C.L.26.2025.

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C.L.18.2026

2. Outcome of the correction procedure regarding the Chinese text of the IHR

The Director-General has the honour to refer to Circular Letter 36.2025 on the correction procedure regarding the IHR and, in particular, the alternative and additional proposed corrections to the Chinese text of the IHR that were presented in the Annex to C.L.36.2025. States Parties could submit objections to these alternative and additional proposed corrections by 17 February 2026.

No objections were received within this deadline. Accordingly, the aforementioned alternative and additional proposed corrections to the Chinese text of the IHR are deemed adopted by all States Parties to the IHR in accordance with decision WHA78(24), and will be reflected in the consolidated Chinese text of the IHR published on the WHO website in due course.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization takes this opportunity to renew to States Parties to the IHR the assurance of his highest consideration.

GENEVA, 1 May 2026

NEW ZEALAND Permanent Mission TE AKA AORERE

NOTE NUMBER: 2026/88

The Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations Office and Other International

Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the Director-General of the World Health

Organization and has the honour to refer to the Director-General’s Notification to States Parties to the

International Health Regulations (2005) Ref: C.L.40.2024 of 19 September 2024 regarding the

amendments to the International Health Regulations adopted by the seventy-seventh World Health

Assembly on 1 June 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the 2024 Amendments).

The Permanent Mission notes that further to Note Number 2023/76 New Zealand has until 18 March

2026 to inform the Director-General of New Zealand’s rejection of, or reservations in respect of, the

2024 Amendments.

The Permanent Mission wishes to notify the Director-General that, in accordance with Article 61 of the

International Health Regulations, New Zealand rejects the 2024 Amendments. The Permanent Mission

notes, pursuant to Article 63 of the International Health Regulations, New Zealand may withdraw its

rejection in the future.

The Permanent Mission takes this opportunity to renew to the Director-General of the World Health

Organization the assurances of its highest considerations.

New Zealand Permanent Mission

GENEVA

16 March 2026

g PERMANENT MISSION

OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO THE UNITTD NATIONS OIFICE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN GENIVA

NOTE VERBALE

02937012026-CHSM1-1

The Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations Office and other lnternational Organisations in Geneva presents its compliments to the World Health Organization and has the honour to send enclosed the letter of the Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Kamil Saëko, addressed to the Director General of the WHO, Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The Permanent Mission of Slovakia would be most grateful if the WHO could kindly acknowledge the receipt of this communication.

The Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the World Health Organization the assurances of its highest consideration

Geneva, 16 March 2026

Attached: Letter of MoH

World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva Switzerland