Consultative Status

Consultative status is the recognition the IMO grants to international non-governmental organizations, allowing them to attend meetings of the Assembly, Council, Committees, and sub-committees as observers and to submit documents. The Council grants it on the criteria in the Rules and Guidelines governing relationships with NGOs, requiring that the body have a genuine maritime interest and competence able to contribute to IMO work. Observers may speak when invited but hold no vote. The status is periodically reviewed, and inactive organizations can have it withdrawn.