International Plant Protection Convention

What International Plant Protection Convention does

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an intergovernmental treaty organization established in 1951 and deposited with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Its Secretariat has been hosted at FAO headquarters in Rome since 1992 and operates under the governance of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which convenes annually with representation from all seven FAO regions. The IPPC's core mission is to secure coordinated, global action to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests, thereby protecting cultivated plants, natural vegetation, biodiversity, and food security while facilitating safe international trade. Membership is open to FAO member states and is free of charge; 185 countries have ratified the Convention as contracting parties.

The IPPC delivers its mandate through a portfolio of standards, digital tools, and capacity-development programmes. The standards corpus comprises 46 International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), 31 Diagnostic Protocols, and 45 Phytosanitary Treatments, which contracting parties transpose into national legislation. The supporting digital platform includes the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) as the central web hub, the IPPC ePhyto Solution for electronic phytosanitary certification exchange, the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) modular assessment system, the Online Comment System (OCS) for standards consultation, and the Pest Outbreak Alert and Response System (POARS). Capacity development is delivered through regional workshops across FAO regions, the IPPC Plant Health Campus on the FAO e-learning Academy, the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) covering 38 countries, and a wide library of guides and training materials.

IPPC does not earn fee revenue; funding is provided through FAO regular programme allocations and extra-budgetary contributions from members and partners including the European Union and Japan. Its customers are effectively National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs), and the 185 contracting parties that collectively ratify standards and implement IPPC obligations. The IPPC's authority is reinforced by recognition under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) as the sole international standards-setting body for plant health.

Name

International Plant Protection Convention

Legal name

International Plant Protection Convention

Website

https://ippc.int

Company type

Public

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is the FAO-hosted intergovernmental treaty organization that develops and promotes International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures for 185 contracting parties, providing digital certification tools (ePhyto), capacity-building programmes, and global coordination to prevent the spread of plant pests and facilitate safe trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Phytosanitary Standards and Plant Health Governance

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs & Monitoring (AFACAGAA), Sanitation, Exclusion & Pest-Proofing Consulting (HACCP/FSMA Support) (AFACAGAI), IPM Documentation, Compliance & Reporting (Logs, Audits, SOPs) (HSAMAJAJ)

Keywords

• Phytosanitary standards
• Plant health protection
• Electronic phytosanitary certification
• Pest risk management
• Capacity development

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: The International Plant Protection Convention does not require member countries to pay any fees. IPPC membership is free for contracting parties.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an intergovernmental treaty organization that develops and promotes International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), Diagnostic Protocols, and Phytosanitary Treatments to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests. It operates digital tools including the ePhyto Solution for electronic phytosanitary certification exchange, the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) system, and the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) for 185 contracting parties. The organization delivers capacity development through e-learning courses, guides, training materials, and regional workshops coordinated via the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM).

Product overview

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an intergovernmental treaty organization administered by FAO that protects global plant resources from pests. Rather than a unified software product, IPPC operates as a platform organization offering multiple distinct tools and standards products. The core offerings include 46 International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), 31 Diagnostic Protocols, and 45 Phytosanitary Treatments, which form the foundational standards framework. Key operational tools include the ePhyto Solution for electronic phytosanitary certification enabling paperless trade, the Online Comment System (OCS) for stakeholder consultation on draft standards, and the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) for countries to assess their phytosanitary capabilities. The IPPC Plant Health Campus provides e-learning courses, while the IPPC Observatory monitors implementation trends. Additional systems include POARS for pest outbreak alerts, IRSS for implementation support, and comprehensive guides and training materials. The organization coordinates through the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) with 185 contracting parties, hosting the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) as the primary digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IPPC ePhyto Solution Electronic phytosanitary certification system enabling trading countries to exchange phytosanitary certificates electronically, error-free and in near real time, simplifying international trade procedures under ISPM 7.
• Online Comment System (OCS) Secure online tool that enables IPPC contracting parties and relevant international organizations to insert, share, and submit comments on draft standards during standards consultation processes.
• Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Modular online software system with 13 semi-structured questionnaire modules that helps countries identify strengths and gaps in phytosanitary systems, supporting strategic planning and national phytosanitary action plans.
• IPPC Plant Health Campus E-learning platform offering courses on plant health topics including introduction to IPPC, surveillance, pest risk analysis, export certification, inspection, and emergency preparedness.
• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) 46 international standards adopted by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) that provide the basis for countries to make national legislation, guidelines, and measures to protect plant resources from harmful pests.
• Diagnostic Protocols 31 diagnostic protocols providing standardized procedures for detecting and identifying plant pests, supporting phytosanitary diagnostics across NPPOs.
• Phytosanitary Treatments 45 phytosanitary treatments providing approved methods for treating plants and plant products to eliminate pests, supporting safe international trade.
• IPPC Observatory Online tool providing monitoring and analysis of plant health trends and implementation of IPPC standards across contracting parties.
• Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS) IPPC project designed to facilitate and promote implementation of the IPPC and ISPMs by identifying successes and challenges through surveys, case studies, and technical meetings.
• Pest Outbreak Alert and Response System (POARS) System that strengthens global phytosanitary capacity by improving early detection, enabling faster and coordinated responses, and fostering international collaboration to reduce the impact of emerging pests.
• IPPC Guides and Training Materials Comprehensive collection of guides and training manuals to help NPPOs build capacity and effectively implement the IPPC, ISPMs, and CPM recommendations.
• National Reporting Obligations (NROs) System enabling IPPC contracting parties to fulfill their information exchange obligations by reporting on pest status, phytosanitary regulations, and other required information.
• Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) Regional capacity development programme expanding to 38 countries to strengthen plant health systems and phytosanitary capacity in Africa.
• Phytosanitary Treatments Search Tool Searchable database tool for finding approved phytosanitary treatments and their specifications to support compliance and trade decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of global crop yield lost to plant pests annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1951FAO provides the neutral hosting environment for the IPPC Secretariat and acts as the depositary for the Convention. The IPPC is deposited with the Director-General of FAO and administered through the IPPC Secretariat established in 1992 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. FAO provides administrative, operational, and governance support to IPPC activities.
• Contracting Parties (185 countries)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner185 contracting parties collaborate to develop, adopt and promote application of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). Each contracting party designates a National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) to implement IPPC obligations.
• World Trade Organization (WTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWTO recognizes the IPPC as the sole convention for plant health under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement. IPPC standards are recognized as international benchmarks for trade in plant commodities and form the basis for phytosanitary measures applied in trade by WTO Members.
• Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPPOs (such as APPPC, EPPO, NAPPO, OIRSA, COSAVE, CPPC, IAPSC, NEPPO, PPPO) support regional coordination of plant health activities and facilitate IPPC implementation at regional level. The CPM Focus Group and Working Group Reports involve RPPO participation.
• FAO Technical Cooperation ProgrammesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPPC collaborates with FAO technical cooperation programmes including the Global Action Against Fall Armyworm, the Global TR4 Network, and One Health initiatives to strengthen plant protection capacities in developing countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO): Regional Plant Protection Organization for North America developing regional phytosanitary standards aligned with IPPC ISPMs. Comparable scope, governance, and standards-setting role at a smaller geographic scale.
• European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO): Regional Plant Protection Organization covering Europe and the Mediterranean, coordinating phytosanitary standards, pest alerts, and capacity development. Direct functional peer to IPPC at the regional level and recognized by IPPC as an RPPO.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO): Joint FAO/WHO international standard-setting body for food safety, complementary to IPPC under the WTO SPS Agreement. Operates on the same multilateral, consensus-driven model for international standards and is a natural peer in cross-border agricultural/food regulation.
• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH): Intergovernmental standards body for animal health, also referenced under the WTO SPS Agreement alongside IPPC and Codex. Highly comparable multilateral structure, governance model, and relationship to FAO and trade-facilitation frameworks.

Broad incumbents

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): UN multilateral treaty addressing biodiversity, including invasive alien species that overlap with IPPC's pest-prevention mandate. Comparable multilateral, consensus-driven governance and FAO-adjacent positioning.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Global standards-setting body across industries. Comparable in producing internationally recognized standards via consensus processes; relevant as a broader peer for IPPC's standard-setting methodology even though ISO does not cover plant health specifically.
• International Plant Health Conference organizer community (FAO): FAO as IPPC's parent organization provides the neutral hosting environment, depositary functions, and much of the operational budget. Peer in the sense of shared multilateral governance over food and agriculture policy.

Others

• WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: Multilateral forum where IPPC standards are referenced as international benchmarks under the SPS Agreement. Adjacent/ecosystem peer governing how IPPC's outputs are used in trade dispute contexts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ippcnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ippc-international-plant-protection-convention
• Facebookfacebook.com/IPPCFAO

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Plant Protection Convention