The Fifth Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) was held at Kingston, Jamaica during 9-27th August, 1999. The Advisor of the Department handling the Polymetallic Nodules Programme took part in this Session and he was elected as a Member of the Legal and Technical Commission. The First Secretary (LA), Permanent Mission of India to the UN, New York was also elected as a Member of the Finance Committee of ISBA for a term ending December, 2001. Some of the important aspects such as draft mining code, draft environmental guidelines for exploration of polymetallic nodules were deliberated by the Council and Legal & Technical Commission of the Authority, respectively.