Who approves the use of active substances in ballast water treatment?

• A. The World Health Organization
• B. The International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• C. The International Labour Organization
• D. The United Nations Environment Programme

Answer: (B)

The International Maritime Organization handles international governance of ballast water treatment. It develops and enforces standards for ships and how ballast water is treated, including the approval process for the active substances used in those treatments. Under the Ballast Water Management Convention, treatment systems require type approval, and the active substances they employ are evaluated and approved through IMO processes and advisory bodies. Other organizations like the WHO, ILO, and UNEP focus on health, labor, or environmental protection in broader contexts, but they do not approve ballast water treatment substances at the international regulatory level.