Second part of the Fifth Session (INC-5.2)

5–15 Aug, 2025

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The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva ended without consensus—an outcome that avoided legitimizing weak measures and tobacco industry greenwashing. Throughout the negotiations, the Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance (STPA), convened by GGTC, kept health safeguards at the forefront, opposing filter alternatives and exposing misleading narratives around recycling and tobacco Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Civil society and youth mobilization were strong, from high-visibility campaigns and joint statements to a Health Caucus that united experts and advocates. While the draft text fell short of binding measures on cigarette filters and treaty alignment with the WHO FCTC, INC-5.2 strengthened calls for governments to take immediate national action on filter bans, liability, and protecting public health in the plastics treaty process.

Fourth Session (INC-4)

23-29 Apr, 2024

Daily key takeaways: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6

Advancing against plastic pollution: WHO FCTC recognition and support for cigarette filter ban

The WHO FCTC was recognized in the draft Preamble during a plenary at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the UN Plastics Pollution Treaty, following months of advocacy and technical assistance by GGTC, a convenor of the Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance (STPA), including a powerful statement delivered by Laura Salgado, GGTC Head of Campaign and Partnerships, on behalf of the STPA members. Cigarette filters and other tobacco-related products were  included in the list of avoidable and problematic plastics. Furthermore, in a joint statement, WHO called for a ban on cigarette filters and other single-use tobacco plastic products.

Third Session (INC-3)

13-19 Nov, 2023

Daily key takeaways: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 & 7

Aligning with the alliance’s advocacy on the inclusion of tobacco’s toxic plastics in the upcoming plastics treaty, and urging a ban on cigarette filters, one significant highlight of INC-3, concluded on November 19, 2023, was the mention of cigarette filters in the report (refer to page 3) submitted by Contact Group 1.

Second Session (INC-2)

29 May-02 Jun, 2023

Daily key takeaways: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5

Ahead of INC-2, the STPA convened a round table discussion, The Road to a Ban on Cigarette Filters, that brought together experts and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to assess the potential benefits and challenges of a cigarette filter ban. This RTD served as a platform for collaboration and advocacy efforts to generate recommendations for policymakers and advocates on promoting a ban on cigarette filters.

Additionally, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and STPA organized a webinar (Part A and B) with the renowned public health community to build the capacity to take action supporting advocacy at the country level, as well as during INC sessions and the Tenth session of the Conference of Parties to the WHO FCTC (COP10). The webinar aimed to garner support from key community stakeholders concerning the important Plastics Treaty.

First Session (INC-1)

28 Nov-02 Dec, 2022

Interventions delivered by members of the STPA highlight the importance of banning cigarette filters and excluding the tobacco industry and other private actors who have an inherent conflict of interest from participating in the discussions. These include: Intervention statement of ASH, Second intervention statement by ASH, Joint statement from ASH, COARE and CIEL, Statement by Corporate Accountability, Statement by Vital Strategies.

The alliance also contributed to POP Lite Bulletin of the Break Free From Plastics Movement ( 1, 2, 3), which provided daily key takeaways during the first and second sessions of the negotiations.