2.1.The Act’s purpose is to amend section 2A of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(c.36) (power to make regulations for control of certain diseases) The amendment is required to extend the Department’s regulation making powers under that Act in order to facilitate revision of the Public Health (Ships) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971 S.R 1971 No 183, and the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1971 S.R. 1971 No 182, known collectively as the Ships and Aircraft Regulations.
2.2.Amendments to the Ships and Aircraft regulations are required to comply with the UK’s obligations in relation to the World Health Organisation’s International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR), some of which are already in operations. The regulations require amendments to enable ports in Northern Ireland to issue the new, internationally accepted, Ship Sanitation Control Certificates (SSCs).