Core activities
Standards setting
The IPPC is the only standard-setting authority for plant health in the world. The Standards Committee, the IPPC Secretariat and the Standards Setting Unit support the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) in standard setting by engaging internationally recognized experts and partners to develop, adopt and promote standards, recommendations, diagnostic protocols and phytosanitary treatments to manage plant pests. The Standards Committee ensures that plant health standards are not only based on science and are technically robust, but that they are also practical and can be implemented in real situations.
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) – the gold standard in plant health –are benchmarks from which contracting parties draw similarities and harmonize their phytosanitary systems and legislation. ISPMs promote global cooperation in trade in plants and plant products, mitigate costs associated with pest control or eradication and limit environmental damage from plant pests. They also contribute to achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda by promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing global food security, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity from climate change impact and facilitating economic and trade development.
**IImplementation and capacity development
Strengthening the technical capacity of national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) helps them better understand and effectively apply the convention, ISPMs and CPM recommendations. IPPC gives NPPOs the capacity building framework to carry out their functions, for instance in conducting pest risk analysis, pest surveillance and pest eradication operations.
The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee, the IPPC Secretariat, the Implementation and Facilitation Unit and partners work together to provide technical assistance to contracting parties, particularly developing countries, to adopt the convention, standards and CPM recommendations. The IPPC Secretariat, international experts and partners also develop and promote tools to strengthen national phytosanitary systems such as the phytosanitary capacity evaluation. The secretariat also develops guides, training materials, e-learning courses, webinars and information resources made available on the International Phytosanitary Portal to enhance countries’ systems and capacity for implementation.
Governance
The IPPC has a multi-level governance strategy that allows oversight at different stages of developing and implementing international phytosanitary measures against plant pests. At the helm of the IPPC is the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the main governing body, responsible for promoting the implementation of the convention’s goal. The CPM is complemented by the CPM Bureau, technical committees and subsidiary bodies which work closely with the units at the IPPC Secretariat towards achieving the objectives of the IPPC Strategic Framework.
Communication and partnerships
The IPPC communicates and advocates to advance plant health globally so that the wider public understands and acts to prevent the negative consequences of plant pests. This involves informing, advocating and engaging key stakeholders including national governments, policy makers, donors, industries, academia, the media and the general public. The IPPC Communications Strategy 2023-2030 provides the roadmap to achieve this and supports in achieving the objectives of the IPPC Strategic Framework. Flagship global campaigns include the International Day of Plant Health on 12 May and the International Year of Plant Health in 2020.
The IPPC Secretariat maintains strong partnerships with treaties and organizations that share common interests to help mainstream plant health issues and policies in debates on environment, climate change and development issues. The secretariat keeps strong links with regional plant protection organizations as well as with regional FAO offices to facilitate implementation of the IPPC, standards and CPM recommendations.