diff --git a/model/atmosphere/advection/advection_tests/conftest.py b/model/atmosphere/advection/advection_tests/conftest.py
index 7ee1151470..ae7f566989 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/advection/advection_tests/conftest.py
+++ b/model/atmosphere/advection/advection_tests/conftest.py
@@ -10,24 +10,8 @@
 # distribution for a copy of the license or check <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
-import pytest
-from gt4py.next.program_processors.runners.roundtrip import executor
 
-from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.simple_mesh import SimpleMesh
-
-
-BACKENDS = {"embedded": executor}
-MESHES = {"simple_mesh": SimpleMesh()}
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(
-    ids=MESHES.keys(),
-    params=MESHES.values(),
+from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.fixtures import (  # noqa : F401  # fixtures from test_utils
+    backend,
+    mesh,
 )
-def mesh(request):
-    return request.param
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(ids=BACKENDS.keys(), params=BACKENDS.values())
-def backend(request):
-    return request.param
diff --git a/model/atmosphere/advection/pyproject.toml b/model/atmosphere/advection/pyproject.toml
index f26f25f3b4..9a659352eb 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/advection/pyproject.toml
+++ b/model/atmosphere/advection/pyproject.toml
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ warn_unused_ignores = true
 [tool.pytest]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
+addopts = ['-p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config']
 markers = 'slow_tests: marks tests as slow'
 testpaths = ['tests', 'advection_tests']
 
diff --git a/model/atmosphere/diffusion/diffusion_tests/conftest.py b/model/atmosphere/diffusion/diffusion_tests/conftest.py
index b00ec804c5..d429204442 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/diffusion/diffusion_tests/conftest.py
+++ b/model/atmosphere/diffusion/diffusion_tests/conftest.py
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@
     step_date_exit,
     step_date_init,
 )
-from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config import (  # noqa: F401
-    pytest_addoption,
-    pytest_configure,
-    pytest_generate_tests,
-    pytest_runtest_setup,
-)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/model/atmosphere/diffusion/pyproject.toml b/model/atmosphere/diffusion/pyproject.toml
index 8389cb9b4b..8714103bef 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/diffusion/pyproject.toml
+++ b/model/atmosphere/diffusion/pyproject.toml
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ warn_unused_ignores = true
 [tool.pytest]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
+addopts = ['-p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config']
 markers = [
   "datatest: test depending on serialized data generated by a full model run"
 ]
diff --git a/model/atmosphere/dycore/pyproject.toml b/model/atmosphere/dycore/pyproject.toml
index a29c25ea69..8f626ee19d 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/dycore/pyproject.toml
+++ b/model/atmosphere/dycore/pyproject.toml
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ warn_unused_ignores = true
 [tool.pytest]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
+addopts = ['-p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config']
 testpaths = 'tests'
 
 [tool.setuptools.dynamic]
diff --git a/model/atmosphere/dycore/tests/conftest.py b/model/atmosphere/dycore/tests/conftest.py
index 2a512fb365..8e6147e6d2 100644
--- a/model/atmosphere/dycore/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/model/atmosphere/dycore/tests/conftest.py
@@ -25,9 +25,3 @@
     step_date_exit,
     step_date_init,
 )
-from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config import (  # noqa: F401
-    pytest_addoption,
-    pytest_configure,
-    pytest_generate_tests,
-    pytest_runtest_setup,
-)
diff --git a/model/common/pyproject.toml b/model/common/pyproject.toml
index 794413c086..6aa277c285 100644
--- a/model/common/pyproject.toml
+++ b/model/common/pyproject.toml
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ warn_unused_ignores = true
 [tool.pytest]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
+addopts = ['-p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config']
 markers = [
   "datatest: test depending on serialized data generated by a full model run",
   "with_netcdf: test depending on a compatible version of netCDF4"
diff --git a/model/common/tests/conftest.py b/model/common/tests/conftest.py
index b69324c5a2..ce8276620c 100644
--- a/model/common/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/model/common/tests/conftest.py
@@ -28,12 +28,6 @@
     processor_props,
     ranked_data_path,
 )
-from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config import (  # noqa: F401
-    pytest_addoption,
-    pytest_configure,
-    pytest_generate_tests,
-    pytest_runtest_setup,
-)
 
 
 grids_path = base_path.joinpath("grids")
diff --git a/model/driver/pyproject.toml b/model/driver/pyproject.toml
index 693f257cc6..54b2410297 100644
--- a/model/driver/pyproject.toml
+++ b/model/driver/pyproject.toml
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ warn_unused_ignores = true
 [tool.pytest]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
+addopts = ['-p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config']
 testpaths = 'tests'
 
 [tool.setuptools.dynamic]
diff --git a/model/driver/tests/conftest.py b/model/driver/tests/conftest.py
index d9ad439dc9..d7562f33d9 100644
--- a/model/driver/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/model/driver/tests/conftest.py
@@ -17,8 +17,3 @@
     processor_props,
     ranked_data_path,
 )
-from icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config import (  # noqa: F401
-    pytest_addoption,
-    pytest_configure,
-    pytest_runtest_setup,
-)
diff --git a/model/tox.ini b/model/tox.ini
index 42edca3083..e59fc2737b 100644
--- a/model/tox.ini
+++ b/model/tox.ini
@@ -33,3 +33,5 @@ skip_install = true
 commands =
 commands_post =
 
+[pytest]
+addopts = -p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index c796932b5c..60bb4d8630 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@ markers =
     slow_tests: mark test as slow.
     datatest: test depending on serialized data generated by a full model run
     with_netcdf: test depending on a compatible version of netCDF4
+addopts = -p icon4py.model.common.test_utils.pytest_config