This Regional Priority Programme, implemented since 2016, consists of three main interrelated components.
While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety, quality standards, and controls for animal and plant diseases requires the support of national systems for disease prevention and control to facilitate the safe transfer and movement of food and agricultural commodities across borders. This means that a supportive policy environment for agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at national and enterprise levels. Effective markets and efficient, sustainable value chains will help all actors in the production chain play their part in a cohesive food system.
Featured news
FAO reinforces regional efforts to curb antimicrobial resistance at Moscow food safety conference
20/11/2025
As the world marks World AMR Awareness Week, 18–24 November, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reaffirmed its strong...
Rural women in Kosovo strengthen livelihoods through livestock care trainings
19/11/2025
With stronger knowledge in livestock care and feeding, women from rural areas of Kosovo1 are improving their...
From aid to growth: strategic shift secures long-term future for Moldovan agriculture
14/11/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a project to strengthen competitiveness and climate resilience among...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=6b35d646_2 "Turkmenistan improves the surveillance and control of a widespread disease – brucellosis")
Turkmenistan improves the surveillance and control of a widespread disease – brucellosis
10/11/2025
A workshop on the surveillance and control of brucellosis took place in Ashgabat from 20 to 24 October. It was led by experts from the Food and Agriculture...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=5a8c7276_2 "FAO launches virtual training in Russian to boost field veterinarians’ response to zoonotic diseases")
FAO launches virtual training in Russian to boost field veterinarians’ response to zoonotic diseases
04/11/2025
Zoonotic diseases – infections transmitted from animals to humans – remain a serious threat to global health, livelihoods and food systems. In an era...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=a4f07b39_2 "Pig in a smallholder farms in the Western Balkans")
Strengthening veterinary capacity to combat African swine fever in the Western Balkans
30/10/2025
Today marks the conclusion of a series of trainings on African swine fever and stamping-out measures conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=998d2c36_2 "Türkiye’s unique pine honey is nationally protected thanks to new GI status")
Türkiye’s unique pine honey is nationally protected thanks to new GI status
09/10/2025
Türkiye produces most of the world’s pine honey, notably along the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. And now that pine honey – Türk Çam Balı...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=88e127e7_2 "European Commission on Agriculture session to discuss producing more with less")
European Commission on Agriculture session to discuss producing more with less
02/10/2025
Today, the European...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=45033b98_2 "Regional experts unite to strengthen defenses against animal diseases in Europe and Central Asia")
Regional experts unite to strengthen defenses against animal diseases in Europe and Central Asia
30/09/2025
More than 150 animal health experts, policymakers and international partners gathered in Belgrade from 22 to 25 September 2025 for the first Global...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=82280a6c_2 "A champion for food security: fighting food loss and waste on the ground")
A champion for food security: fighting food loss and waste on the ground
29/09/2025
Every year, millions of tonnes of edible food are lost or wasted worldwide, while millions of people lack access to food. On this year’s International...
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=e6c7c899_2 "Foot and Mouth disease vaccination campaign FAO")
Armenia advances foot-and-mouth disease control with FAO and EuFMD support
29/08/2025
From 18 to 20 August 2025, Yerevan hosted the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD national workshop, which gathered government officials, veterinary...
Programme launched to transform food systems in Tajikistan for improved nutrition, inclusive growth and sustainability
15/07/2025
A new two-year joint programme focused on transforming food systems for better nutrition, launched today, is expected to directly benefit more than...
Azerbaijan goes digital: accelerating agricultural census methods through FAO support
09/07/2025
Agriculture is inherently exposed to a wide range of risks, from natural disasters to market volatility. As sustainability becomes an increasingly pressing...
FAO regional workshop discusses response to ruminant disease outbreaks in Europe
26/06/2025
In response to the recent and sudden surge of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) affecting ruminants across Europe this year, the Food and Agriculture...
FAO webinar helps strengthen national SDG reporting in Turkmenistan
20/06/2025
From 10 to 13 June 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a comprehensive four-day online webinar for national...
Smallholder woman farmer flourishing with innovative cheesemaking and modern dairy production practices in Georgia
06/06/2025
Amidst the citrus trees, cows crossing the streets and hazelnut orchards, a typical sight in the Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti region, Marina Kacharava, 69,...
New European plan aims to curb cormorant impacts on fisheries
05/06/2025
The population of great cormorants in Europe has increased in recent decades from some 50 000 birds in the 1970s to an estimated population of more...
Virtual training for veterinarians aids in the reporting and prevention of zoonoses
30/05/2025
Veterinarians are often the first to detect, prevent and respond to zoonoses, or diseases transmitted between humans and animals. As the world becomes...
Events
24/11
2025
28/11
2025
International workshop on unmanned vehicles and their utilization in modern agriculture
Prague (Czechia), Hybrid Event, 24/11/2025 - 28/11/2025
FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia together with the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU), Prague is going to organize an international workshop on “Unmanned Vehicles and Their Utilisation in Modern Agriculture” from 24 to 28 November in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic to promote Precision Agriculture in the region under the Czech SSTC Trust ...
20/11
2025
Fifth regional consultation on Geographical Indications (GIs) in Europe and Central Asia
Virtual Event, 20/11/2025
Geographical Indications (GIs) play a vital role in promoting rural development by increasing the value of local products, preserving traditional knowledge, and generating economic opportunities for rural communities.
Since 2017, FAO has organized a series of Regional Consultations on Geographical Indications (GIs), providing a platform to exchange experiences, strengthen institutional capac...
20/11
2025
21/11
2025
II International Conference on Food Safety and Joint Efforts to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance
Moscow (Russia), 20/11/2025 - 21/11/2025
The Second International Conference ‘Food Safety and Joint Efforts to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance’ will take place on 20–21 November 2025 in Moscow, under the auspices of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) and with technical support from FAO.
Contact
Mary Kenny
Food safety and consumer protection officer
20 Kalman Imre utca
H-1054 Budapest
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 8141-251
Previous initiatives
See also
Sustainable Development Goals
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