In 2000 the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission undertook the revision of its rules of procedure to make them compatible with the new Statutes of the Commission adopted in 1999. The present Rules of Procedure were adopted by the IOC Assembly at its 21st session on 11 July 2001 through Resolution XXI-4.

In 2021 the IOC Assembly at its 31st session adopted Resolution A-31/2 initiating the revision of the Rules of Procedure “in order to align them with the prevailing United Nations best practices” facilitating informed and timely decision-making by IOC Member States.

The present Rules of Procedure were revised by the IOC Assembly at its 32nd session on 30 June 2023 through Resolution A-32/4.