Limiting or preventing the introduction and spread of pests that harm plants is crucial to ensuring stable availability of and economic and physical access to food. Each year up to 16 % of the global harvest is lost due to plant pests, translating into losses of over USD 220 billion. International travel and trade has increased exponentially over the past 30 years with a similar increase in the pests associated. In particular, the spread of pests of plants and plant products negatively impact smallholder farmers and producers who are highly vulnerable to foreign pests that infest and damage their crops.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) provides a framework that allows countries to address pest risks associated with the international movement of plants and plant products. As the only plant health standard setting organization in the world, the IPPC sets standards for countries to harmonize their phytosanitary measures to enhance food security and facilitate safe trade.