The global mandate comes from Article IX of the New Revised Text (1997) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The regional mandate for NAPPO was formalized by Canada, the United States and Mexico in a Cooperative Agreement signed in 1976 at the Minister/Secretary of Agriculture level.

NAPPO’s mission is to: - Provide a forum for public and private sectors in Canada, the United States and Mexico to collaborate in the development of science-based standards intended to protect agricultural, forest and other plant resources against regulated plant pests, while facilitating trade.

In order to accomplish this mission, the following strategic goals have been established: • Protecting plant resources and the environment • Capacity building • Communicating results • Building partnerships • Offering an effective dispute settlement mechanism • Working with sound management practices • Working with a stable funding base NAPPO has responsibilities at the regional, hemispheric and global level.

In addition, NAPPO provides technical support to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee of the North American Free Trade Agreement.