NEW IPPC e-learning course: Achieving market access for plants and plant products

Is your country working to expand trade in plants and plant products? The IPPC Secretariat is pleased to announce the launch of a new e-learning course Achieving market access for plants and plant products, available on the IPPC Plant Health Campus.

This self-paced e-learning course is designed to support plant health professionals, particularly those working within an NPPO, by enhancing their understanding of the organization's objectives and operations, as well as their own responsibilities within it.

The course is part of a growing library of certified e-learning resources developed by the IPPC Secretariat and the FAO elearning Academy. Visit the IPPC Plant Health Campus and take the course here.

The IPPC Plant Health Campus is a free, multilingual platform offering e-learning courses, guides, and tools accessible to all.

Who should enroll? The main audiences for this course are Heads of NPPOs and their staff, including plant health managers, export and import program officers, pest risk assessors, inspection supervisors, and inspectors. It aims to enhance expertise in plant protection practices. Additionally, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation facilitators, producers, exporters, importers, and other NPPO stakeholders and partners will also benefit, promoting collaborative approaches to securing market access for plants and plant products.

This e-learning course outlines the process countries can follow to access new markets for exporting plants and plant products, while reducing trade disruptions and preventing the introduction of pests. It introduces key international agreements and standards and highlights the role of phytosanitary measures in facilitating safe, sustainable trade.

You will learn about:

• Rights and obligations of NPPOs in trading plants and plant products, focusing on pest prevention.
• A streamlined guide to gaining market access while minimizing trade hindrances.
• Strategies for sustaining trade and restoring market access post-pest outbreak.

Upon completion, participants earn a digital badge certifying the skills acquired—supporting professional development and recognition. Learners are encouraged to share their badge on platforms such as LinkedIn (using the hashtags #planthealth #IPPC_Campus).