Plant protection models and other decision-support tools (DTs) have become important for integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Directive 128/2009/EC on sustainable use of pesticides defines the role of DTs in supporting decision making on whether and when intervene to protect the crops from harmful organisms. The Italian Action Plan assigns to Regional governments the responsibility of defining DTs suitable to the scope and making them (or their output) available for professional users. Several plant protection models exist in literature, which have been developed for different purposes, by using diverse approaches, in different climatic conditions and agricultural contexts. The criteria for comparing and selecting models for being usefully integrated in the Italian IPM schemes are discussed in this talk, including: model purpose and approach, biological mechanisms accounted for, driving variables, transparency, possibility of adaptation to local conditions, validation, evaluation of usefulness. Searching for a consensus on these criteria would be useful for developing a platform in which the suitable models can be made available for use.