[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22463-22464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07812]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of Global Affairs: Stakeholder Listening Session on 
Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)

ACTION: Notice of public listening session; request for comments.

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DATES: The listening session will be held on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023, 
from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
    Place: The session will be held virtually, with online and dial-in 
information shared with registered participants.
    Status: This meeting is open to the public but requires RSVP to 
[email protected] by Friday, June 9, 2023. See RSVP section below for 
details.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is 
charged with leading U.S. participation in the Working Group on the 
Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) and will 
convene a Stakeholder Listening Session.
    The World Health Assembly (WHA) originally adopted the 
International Health Regulations (IHR) in 1969. The regulations were 
amended multiple times, resulting in the current IHR (2005). The 
purpose of IHR (2005) is to prevent, protect against, control, and 
provide public health response to the international spread of disease. 
In May 2021, Member States set up a Working Group on Strengthening WHO 
Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies (WGPR) with the intent 
of strengthening WHO's capacities and ability to support Member States 
in the prevention and response of public health emergencies. The WGPR 
produced a report with key findings and recommendations that included 
amending the IHR. The United States submitted a package of targeted 
amendments to the IHR for consideration. These amendments seek to 
improve early warnings and alerts, transparency, and accountability in 
a manner that does not compromise national security or sovereignty. 
Other countries have also submitted proposals that the United States 
seek feedback from stakeholders on the proposed amendments. The 
Stakeholder Listening Session is designed to seek input from 
stakeholders and subject-matter experts on these proposals and to help 
inform and prepare the U.S. government for engagement with the Working 
Group on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005).
    Matters to be Discussed: The listening session will discuss 
potential amendments to the IHR (2005). Topics will include those 
amendments currently under consideration by the Working Group. An 
Article-by-Article Compilation of Proposed Amendments to the 
International Health Regulations (2005) can be found here: https://apps.who.int/gb/wgihr/pdf_files/wgihr1/WGIHR_Compilation-en.pdf.

[[Page 22464]]

Participation is welcome from stakeholder communities.
    RSVP: Persons seeking to speak at the listening session must 
register by Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Persons seeking to attend the 
listening session in a listen-only capacity must RSVP by Thursday, June 
13, 2023.
    Registrants must include their full name, email address, and 
organization, if any, and indicate whether they are registering as a 
listen-only attendee or as a speaker participant to [email protected].
    Requests to participate as a speaker must include all of the 
following:

1. The name and email address of the person desiring to participate
2. The organization(s) that person represents, if any
3. Identification of the primary article(s) of interest

    Other Information: This listening session will be recorded for the 
benefit of the members of the US Working Group on Amendments to the IHR 
(2005).
    Written comments should be emailed to [email protected] with the 
subject line ``Written Comment Re: Stakeholder Listening Session 2 for 
the IHR'' by Friday, June 30, 2023.
    We look forward to your comments on proposed amendments to the 
International Health Regulations (2005).

Susan Kim,
Chief of Staff, Office of Global Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023-07812 Filed 4-12-23; 8:45 am]
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