The codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is one of the most important pest insects in fruit orchards worldwide as well as an important invasive species in different regions of the world. In China, C. pomonella was first reported in the 1950ie-s and was considered a serious invasive species, threatening the safety of fruit production. As the larvae of codling moth bear into the fruit, it is difficult to control this pest. Chemical insecticides, mating disruption and the virus CpGV were the main control methods. In different regions of the world, C. pomonella had developed resistance to different types of insecticides including organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, insect growth regulators, abamectin and CpGV. In this paper, the status of insecticide resistance, knowledge on the development insecticide resistance, the resistance mechanisms and the main reasons causing resistance in the codling moth to different types of insecticides throughout the world were reviewed. Additionally, we propose integrated management strategies for the control of this pest in China, which includes proper use of chemical insecticides, as well as the application of agricultural and biological control methods based on the resistance monitoring.