Finland adopts amendments to International Health Regulations at national level

The President of the Republic has approved the new amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) at the national level. The Finnish Parliament adopted the IHR amendments in its plenary session on 18 June 2025. The IHR are an international legal instrument to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of communicable diseases.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Member States assessed that the international regulatory framework for preparing for pandemics and other health emergencies should be strengthened. The WHO Member States started negotiating amendments to the IHR in November 2022. The amendments were adopted at the World Health Assembly on 1 June 2024. The outcome of the negotiations was in line with Finland’s position and objectives. 

The WHO Director-General sent a notification of the IHR amendments to all Member States in September 2024. The Member States have had ten months to discuss and adopt the amendments at the national level. The amendments will enter into force 12 months after the date of the notification by the Director-General for all those Member States that have not opted out of the amendments. 

The amendments will become binding on Finland on 19 September 2025. In Finland, bringing into force international obligations requires that the Government also issue a decree to this end. The decree will be issued in the autumn by 19 September.

Amendments to result in no major practical impact or additional costs for Finland

The IHR amendments will provide the international community with better tools to prevent and combat pandemics and other health emergencies. The amendments also include minor technical updates. The new duties correspond to the measures that are already being implemented in Finland under the existing national legislation or that are in general being developed in Finland. For this reason, the amendments are not expected to result in any additional costs for Finland.

The amendments to the IHR mainly entail changes to the terminology used. The Member States are also requested to designate a separate National IHR Authority along with the current National IHR Focal Point. Finland’s IHR Focal Point is the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will be designated as the National IHR Authority. Designating a new authority will have no major practical impact on Finland. 

New amendments include definition of pandemic emergency

The new amendments to the IHR introduce a definition of a pandemic emergency, but this does not create any new duties or resourcing needs for Finland. In addition to disease prevention, the scope of the IHR is expanded to include preparedness for the international spread of diseases, and the IHR now include the obligation to prevent public health risks and public health emergencies of international concern. 

One of the amendments includes establishing a Coordinating Financial Mechanism, which could increase financing needs in situations where the current financial mechanisms prove insufficient. However, this is not expected to generate any significant new costs for Finland either, because financing is voluntary.

Inquiries:

Jenna Uusitalo, Legal Adviser, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi