NEW ZEALAND ON WHO INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000328

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP-TRAMSEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO PREL PTER NZ WHO
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND ON WHO INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
REGULATIONS

REF: STATE 73041


1. Post delivered reftel points April 21 to New Zealand's
Ministry of Health. On April 22, Andrew Forsyth, team
leader of the Ministry's Public Health Legislation Review,
reported that he was still working with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade to formulate New Zealand's
positions for the negotiations to revise the International
Health Regulations (IHR),May 12-13, in Geneva. While he
believes New Zealand will agree with the United States on
some issues, his government will want to proceed in a way
that does not detract from achieving the IHR's revision.
He noted that New Zealand has always supported an all-risks
approach by the IHR, instead of a narrow focus on pre-
determined diseases or threats. However, given the
resistance to making the definition of disease less
explicit, New Zealand would like to retain an all-risks
approach that maximizes the number of countries that feel
comfortable with the IHR revisions. Post will report septel
any additional feedback from the New Zealand government.


2. Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, chief public health adviser for
the Ministry of Health, will participate in the May 12-13
negotiations.

BURNETT