 Due to increased growth of the world's population and globalization, international trade is booming, and agricultural products, including food for human and animal consumption, are now sourced at global level. The fast-growing international trade of plants and plant products has led to an increased risk of the introduction and spread of pests, which may be harmful to plants. The current challenge for countries is to facilitate the international movement of animal, goods, and services, while ensuring that national biosecurity is not compromised. To protect plant species of economic, environmental, and aesthetic importance from pests, one of the primary tools available is the application of effective phytosanitary measures. The International Plant Protection Convention provides a framework for the development and application of harmonized phytosanitary measures and the coordination of global plant health activities. While the International Plant Protection Convention confers rights to contracting parties, it also sets out obligations. These include the creation of countries' national plant protection organizations, and the designation of official international plant protection convention contact points. National plant protection organizations are vital, as they are responsible for safeguarding the agricultural, natural and environmental resources in their countries, contributing to enhanced food security and improved trade opportunities. They work closely with trading partners and other relevant stakeholders to maintain an effective national system to prevent the introduction and spread of pests. National plant protection organizations, apply legislation issued by their governments. Responsibilities of national plant protection organizations include the following issuance of phytosanitary certificates, surveillance and inspection, approval of pests, protection of endangered areas, conducting pest risk analyses, preparing and maintaining a list of regulated pests, ensuring phytosanitary security of consignments, and designation, maintenance and surveillance of pest-free areas. As contracting parties to the International Plant Protection Convention, national plant protection organizations are obliged to share information on pests and regulations, and to notify trading partners when imported goods do not meet their phytosanitary requirements. Provided that the principles of the International Plant Protection Convention are respected, a national plant protection organization has the sovereign right to apply phytosanitary measures based on the outcomes of a pest risk analysis. Each national plant protection organization is encouraged to send representatives to participate in, and help direct the work of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which is the International Plant Protection Convention governing body responsible for standard setting and information sharing. To smooth the exchange of information between contracting parties, each country's national plant protection organization identifies an official contact point. These are listed on the International Phytosanitary Portal under the countries section. You can visit the International Plant Protection Convention portal at www.ippc.int to download guides on how to establish and operate a national plant protection organization. Access the FAO eLearning Academy at elearning.fao.org for free eLearning courses.