WHO Implements New Ship Sanitation Control Provisions

Published Jun 21, 2007 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)) went into force on Friday, June 15. The WHO summarizes the IHR (2005) on its Web site as follows:

The International Health Regulations (IHR) are legally binding regulations adopted by most countries to contain the threats from diseases that may rapidly spread from one country to another. Such diseases include emerging infections like SARS, or a new human influenza virus. The threats also come from other public health emergencies that may affect populations across borders, such as chemical spills, leaks and dumping or nuclear melt-downs.

The newest IHR (2005) are an update of the IHR (1969), which addressed only four diseases: cholera, plague, yellow fever and smallpox (which has since been eradicated). They were focused on the control at borders and relatively passive notification and control measures.

Their revision in 2005 has led to an unprecedented international public health agreement to contain health emergencies at the source, not only at national borders. The revision was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2005, and came into force on 15 June 2007. It includes all diseases and health events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

Of most concern to the maritime industry is the implementation of Ship Sanitation Control provisions in Articles 20, 27 39 and Annex 3 of IHR (2005), which read:

15 June 2007 is the date that the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)) will enter into force. Among the provisions that apply to conveyances is a new Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate SSCEC/SSCC, a model of which is shown in Annex 3. These certificates will replace the Deratting Certificate/Deratting Exemption Certificate (DC/DEC) issued under IHR (1969).

The latest date that a Deratting Certificate can be issued is one day prior to the entry into force of IHR (2005) or 14 June 2007. A Derattting Certificate issued on that date is valid for a maximum of six months, or until 14 December 2007. During the six month period from 14 June to 14 December 2007 both unexpired DC/DEC and newly issued SSCEC/SSCC will be in use. After 15 December 2007 no Deratting Certificate will be valid.

As of 15 June 2007 if evidence of a public health risk is found on board a ship and the ship is not able to produce a valid DC/DEC or SSCEC/SSCC, the competent authority may proceed to inspect the ship with one of three possible outcomes.

1) No evidence of a public health risk is found on board. The competent authority may issue a SSCEC.

2) Evidence of a public health risk is found on board. The competent authority satisfactorily completes the necessary control measures and is required to issue a SSCC, valid for a maximum period of six months. If, in the opinion of the competent authority, the conditions under which control measures are carried out at the port are such that a satisfactory result cannot be obtained, this should be noted on the SSCC.

3) The competent authority extends the SSCEC for a period of one month until the ship arrives at a port at which the Ship Sanitation Control Certificate may be received.

States Parties shall send to WHO a list of ports authorized to offer:

1) the issuance of SSCC and the provisions referred to in Annexes 1 and 3;

2) the issuance of the SSCEC only and,

3) the extension of the SSCEC. State Parties shall inform WHO of any changes which may occur in the status of the listed ports.

States Parties may wish to consider publishing any interim transition arrangements for the Annex 3 certificates (on the web or elsewhere).

Under Article 41 any tariff (or amendment thereto) for applying health measures to baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods or postal parcels (and for measures applied to travellers under Article 40) have to be published at least 10 days in advance of any levy.

In order to facilitate international marine traffic, WHO advises that the Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate in Annex 3 of IHR (2005) be printed and completed in English and/or in French, and may also be completed in another language on the same document in addition to either English or French.

The entire text of the IHR (2005) can be read at: http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA58/WHA58_3-en.pdf