Frequently Asked Questions

When did the first part of the fifth session (INC-5.1) and the second part of the fifth session (INC-5.2) take place and why is there a third part (INC-5.3)? 

The first part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.1), took place from 25 November to 1 December 2024 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, Republic of Korea. 

When the Committee reached the final scheduled day of this session, there was general agreement to resume the session at a later date. The session was adjourned at 2.50 a.m. on Monday 2 December 2024.  

The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), took place from 5 to 15 August 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. At 9.10 a.m. on Friday, 15 August 2025, the Committee adjourned the session, to be resumed at a later date. 

Following the resignation of the former INC Chair, the Bureau of the INC at its meeting held on 30 October 2025 - agreed that a one-day resumed session (INC-5.3) should be convened on 7 February 2026 for organizational and administrative purposes, addressing the election of officers including for the position of Chair. Therefore, no substantive negotiations will be held during this resumed session. 

The third part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.3), is scheduled to take place on 7 February 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland. All information regarding INC-5.3 is made available on the INC-5.3 web page: Third Part of the Fifth Session | UNEP - UN Environment Programme 

The invitations for INC-5.3 were circulated in a letter by the INC Executive Secretary, dated 5 November 2025 (see copy of letter in notifications of the same date). Information on the registration for INC-5.3 is available on the INC registration web page. All registrations must be done online via the INDICO platform, and no registrations will be accepted or processed via email. Registrants must submit the required documentation and fill out all mandatory fields in the INDICO platform under the respective category of registration. Queries related to registration should be sent by email to unep-incplastic.registration@un.org. 

No, it may take a few days for the INC Secretariat to review the supporting documentation and to process registrations. Once registration is processed, delegates will receive an automatic email from INDICO informing on the change of status of their registration.

For Members of the Committee, there is no limit on the number of representatives that can register to attend the INC sessions. However, Members are encouraged to have delegates already based in Geneva at the Permanent Missions participate in INC-5.3, or to consider extending the stay of delegates who are already attending the first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1), taking place from 2 to 6 February at the same venue, in order to ensure that resources are used efficiently and in the most cost-effective and sustainable manner, given the organizational and administrative focus of this short, resumed session. 

For duly accredited Observer organizations, including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), United Nations System entities, and Non-governmental Organizations, each can register up to 1 representative to attend INC-5.3. 

No. The timeline for registration is indicated in the invitation letter sent by email from the INC Executive Secretary. The registration portal will close after the registration deadline. There will be no on-site registration. 

NGOs accredited to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) or accredited to one of the Multilateral Environment Agreement (MEAs) administered by UNEP are eligible to participate as Observers in the INC sessions. More information on NGO participation is available in the INC Observer Engagement Guide. 

The following IGOs are eligible to participate as Observers in the INC sessions:

• Those with observer status with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA);
• Those that have participated in the previous sessions of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA);
• Those accredited to participate in the meetings of the Governing Bodies of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and Regional Environment Conventions administered by UNEP.

Representatives of Specialized Agencies (FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, ITU, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, World Bank, WHO, WIPO and WMO) and related organizations (which include CTBTO Preparatory Commission, IAEA, ICC, IOM, OPCW and WTO), as well as from UN Secretariat, funds, programmes, regional commissions, Secretariats of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements administered by UNEP and other UN entities, are eligible to participate as Observers in the INC sessions. 

Organizations whose work is relevant to the INC, but are not accredited to UNEP, Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP and/or do not have consultative status with ECOSOC, can apply to get accredited to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Accreditation to UNEA is administered by a different office, separate from the INC Secretariat. 

For more information about the accreditation process and requirements please consult here. For additional questions about UNEP accreditation, please write to: unep-accreditation@un.org. 

Local governments and municipalities cannot independently register as such for INC sessions. As per Rules 55 and 56 of the Draft Rules of Procedure provisionally applied to the work of the INC (UNEP/PP/INC.4/2), only specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, multilateral environmental agreements, and intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations can participate as Observers in the work of the Committee. 

The registration to the INC sessions and the visa application process are two separate procedures. Delegates are responsible for applying for their entry visa and for meeting the necessary requirements and timelines defined by the host country. 

The assessment of each visa application and the issuance of the visa remain within the jurisdiction of the competent authorities of the host country.

Participants are fully responsible for their visa application, including understanding the entry requirements and procedures. A visa must be obtained prior to arrival in Switzerland. Participants must contact the relevant Embassy/Consulate before requesting support from the Secretariat. It is strongly recommended to attach the passport bio page and the Indico letter of approval of registration when contacting both the Embassies/Consulates and the INC Secretariat.  For the latest information, please consult the information note to participants. 

Funding from voluntary donor contributions is available to support the participation of up to one (1) delegate from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. It is up to each Member of the Committee to decide who within its delegation is the recipient of travel support.  

However, Members are encouraged to have delegates already based in Geneva at the Permanent Missions participate in INC-5.3, or to consider extending the stay of delegates who are already attending the first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1), taking place from 2 to 6 February at the same venue, in order to ensure that resources are used efficiently and in the most cost-effective and sustainable manner, given the organizational and administrative focus of this short, resumed session. 

Application for travel support and registration for INC-5.3 are two separate processes. The delegates designated to receive financial support are requested to submit an additional, dedicated online form whose link was circulated with the invitation letter to INC-5.3.  

Due to the organizational and administrative focus of this short, resumed session, no travel support will be provided for participants from Observer organizations.

The INC Secretariat will commence the required administrative procedures to issue tickets for travel after the deadline for applications. The administrative process can be lengthy, and eligible participants will be contacted directly, as soon as possible, regarding their travel itinerary.

For the necessary travel arrangements to comply with the United Nations rules and regulations, funding support for those nominated after the deadline cannot be guaranteed

The INC Secretariat will not be able to accommodate last-minute changes, cancellations, or substitutions of delegates after a ticket has been issued, as this would result in financial loss.

Funded delegates are responsible for making their own hotel bookings, as the DSA covers costs related to lodging, meals and other such payments made for services rendered during official travel.

A list of recommended hotels and rates in Geneva is available in Annex A of the INC-5.3 Information Note to participants.

Disbursement of the DSA will be made on-site, at the meeting venue, via physical prepaid cards (in USD) for INC-5.3 delegates. Sponsored participants will be requested to present their original arrival boarding pass and original passport/travel document used to enter Switzerland. For the latest information, including the schedule for DSA disbursement, please consult the information note to participants.

Access to the INC-5.3 venue is subject to the presentation of a valid badge. Once registration is approved, participants will receive a UN EVENT PASS via the email address with which they registered. This pass will be used to finalize the registration on-site and to collect the badges at the registration desk on the designated days/times. For information about the hours of collection of badges, please consult the information note to participants.

Due to the organizational and administrative nature of this one-day resumed session, and in accordance with the practical requirements of this session and its venue, there will be no official thematic side events at INC-5.3.

Members of the INC can designate national focal point(s) to the INC process. The national focal point(s) serves as the contact point for further communications with the INC Secretariat. The designation of focal point(s) is separate from the nominations to attend INC sessions and meetings. 

A Note Verbale or official letter with the designation or update of designation of the national focal point(s) should be communicated to unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org, indicating the name, affiliation and contact details of the national focal point(s). The details of the national focal points are made publicly available in the Directory of National Focal Points. 

The INC refers to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee which was established pursuant to UNEA resolution 5/14 entitled “End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument”. The INC is to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, which could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, taking into account, among other things, the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, as well as national circumstances and capabilities. More details are provided in the operative paragraphs 3 and 4 of UNEA resolution 5/14.

The following draft Rules of Procedure apply provisionally to the work of the INC.

As per the draft Rules of Procedure provisionally applied to the work of the INC, a “Member” of the INC means any State Member of the United Nations or Member of its specialized agencies or a regional economic integration organization who participates in the work of the INC.

The modalities for participation of Observers in the INC sessions are provided for in Rule 55 and Rule 56 of the draft Rules of Procedure. The following categories of Observers can participate in the sessions of the INC:

• Accredited Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs);
• United Nations (UN) entities; and
• Accredited Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs).

UNEA resolution 5/14 requested the intergovernmental negotiating committee to begin its work during the second half of 2022, with the ambition of completing its work of delivering the instrument by the end of 2024. UNEA resolution 5/14 further requested the Executive Director to convene a diplomatic conference of plenipotentiaries upon completion of negotiations by the intergovernmental negotiating committee, for the purpose of adopting the instrument and opening it for signature. 

Members of the INC can designate national focal point(s) to the INC process. The national focal point(s) serves as the contact point for further communications with the INC Secretariat. The designation of focal point(s) is separate from the nominations to attend INC sessions and meetings. 

A Note Verbale or official letter with the designation or update of designation of the national focal point(s) should be communicated to unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org, indicating the name, affiliation and contact details of the national focal point(s). The details of the national focal points are made publicly available in the Directory of National Focal Points. 

Delegation of each Member participating in any session of the INC consists of a head of delegation and such alternate representatives and advisers as may be required (rule 6 of the draft rules of procedure provisionally applied to the work of the INC, the). For each INC session, Members are invited to nominate their national delegation by communicating the names of the Head of their delegation as well as the names of alternate representatives and advisers, through a Note Verbale or official letter. 

The Committee at its fourth session agreed to establish an open-ended legal drafting group to conduct a legal review of any elements of the draft text forwarded to it by the Committee with a view to ensuring that the text was drafted in a legally sound manner and make recommendations on the wording to the Committee for its consideration. In its work, the legal drafting group would not consider policy issues, and any policy issues it might identify in the course of its work would be referred back to the Committee. The group will commence its work at the fifth session and be composed of legal experts from Members of the Committee. The latest information will be available on the website: https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/session-5/oeldg

Organizations whose work is relevant to the INC, but are not accredited to UNEP, Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) administered by UNEP and/or do not have consultative status with ECOSOC, can apply to get accredited to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Accreditation to UNEA is administered by a different office, separate from the INC Secretariat.

For more information about the accreditation process and requirements please consult here. For additional questions about UNEP accreditation, please write to: unep-accreditation@un.org.

Local governments and municipalities cannot independently register as such for INC sessions. As per Rules 55 and 56 of the Draft Rules of Procedure for the work of the INC (UNEP/PP/INC.4/2), only specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, multilateral environmental agreements, and intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations can participate as Observers in the work of the sessions. 

The Executive Director established the INC Secretariat in response to paragraph 8 of UNEA Resolution 5/14 that requested the United Nations Environment Programme to ensure the necessary secretariat support to the intergovernmental negotiating committee. The INC Secretariat is headed by the Executive Secretary. The Secretariat functions are outlined in section VII of the draft Rules of Procedure. 

The Secretariat acts as a neutral body supporting the INC process and the mandates and decisions of the Committee direct its work. The INC Secretariat of the INC is not involved in the programmatic activities of UNEP. 

If you wish to receive the general notifications from the INC Secretariat, kindly send your request to be added to the INC mailing list to unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org.