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FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

Increased capacity to implement global standards

Elements: phytosanitary, food safety standards, best practices and system architecture, sanitary/veterinary control issues

Global agricultural markets have become increasingly complex in the past two decades, mainly because of increasing controls and standards designed to ensure food safety and prevent the spread of plant and animal diseases.

In food safety, weaknesses in national controls and in the implementation of global food regulations have led to an emergence of standards and requirements being set by the private sector, with the involvement of certification bodies and regional organizations in implementation and enforcement. FAO helps countries develop country-specific food control systems, regulations and standards that are in harmony with global food standards.

FAO addresses animal health by supporting veterinary services in the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases, the improvement of diagnostic and laboratory capacities, and the promotion of the prudent use of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases are important cross-cutting issues. Plant health issues are covered through the development of capacities of plant protection organizations at regional and national levels. This Regional Priority Programme also helps regional bodies develop capacities in biosafety. Through this Priority Programme, regional biosafety networks will be strengthened for compliance with WTO agreements.

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 of the United Nations (FAO) in the Western Balkans.

The trainings were held in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, with support from national experts and veterinary services. An ASF expert from Latvia shared practical experience on stamping-out procedures. 

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 Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) Regional Conference of Standing Groups of Experts on priority transboundary animal diseases in the European region.
The event, supported by the European Union, marked the twentieth anniversary of GF-TADs Europe, a platform led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to guide coordinated action against animal health threats.
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 experts, farmers’ organizations and international partners to advance the national FMD control strategy in Armenia. The workshop, organized with FAO support under the EuFMD “Move FAST – GET Prepared” strategy, marked an important milestone for Armenia as the newest EuFMD member.
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 Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a two-day regional workshop concluding today in Budapest, Hungary. The event brought together veterinary authorities and animal health experts from over a dozen countries to exchange experiences and strengthen regional coordination against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and sheep and goat pox (SGP).
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, is pursuing her passion of making high-value European cheeses in her small farm next to her home in the town of Abasha. In the region, she is one of the most successful students of a Farmer Field School (FFS) run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 
FAO launches two-year initiative to prevent antimicrobial resistance in the Moldovan agrifood sector
04/06/2025

The Republic of Moldova is stepping up its efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within its agrifood sector through a comprehensive new project launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with national authorities. The initiative was inaugurated through a series of workshops held in Chișinău from 12 to 16 May 2025. More than 30 national partners from the agrifood and health sectors gathered to strengthen intersectoral cooperation and assess progress in the Republic of Moldova on combating AMR.

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 more connected and interactions increase between humans and animals, the risk of zoonotic outbreaks is greater than ever. To address this, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the Zoonoses for Field Veterinarians course in English on the FAO Virtual Learning Center platform.
FAO: Cross-border collaboration is key to eradicate peste des petits ruminants by 2030
23/05/2025
A three-day workshop aimed at strengthening regional cooperation for the surveillance and control of PPR is underway in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Field veterinarians and epidemiologists from Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan are participating in sessions on outbreak investigation, cross-border risk assessment, and emergency response planning.
Where the wind carries hunger
13/05/2025
“The airborne spores of rusts do not respect borders, as Norman Borlaug indicated,” says Fazil Dusunceli, Plant Pathologist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), referring to the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his contribution to the Green Revolution. “The rust fungi mutate into new strains which travel in the air, creating new risks in different regions in their trail.” 
Uzbekistan pushes forward on PPR eradication with a national seromonitoring programme
07/05/2025
For farmers in Uzbekistan’s borderlands, even the threat of a sick goat can jeopardize an entire season. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) — a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats — has never been officially detected in the country. However, as part of regional preparedness efforts, Uzbekistan is taking proactive measures to safeguard animal health. Recent trends in transboundary animal disease outbreaks across several regions underscore the importance of early warning systems and regional preparedness. With mortality rates in infected flocks reaching up to 90 percent, PPR has devastating consequences for rural livelihoods, particularly among smallholder farmers and women engaged in livestock production.
For the first time, FAO offers regional virtual learning course on tackling food loss and waste
30/04/2025
Just a few days before Stop Food Waste Day on 30 April, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has successfully delivered the first regional edition of a virtual learning course on tackling food loss and waste (FLW). Developed in collaboration with the International Food Waste Coalition (now part of the Waste and Resources Action Programme Europe) and hosted on FAO’s Virtual Learning Center, the course offered a hands-on, practical training experience tailored for key actors in the region’s agrifood value chains and systems.
Belarus committed to taking food control systems to the next level
25/04/2025
National food control systems, in line with internationally recognized food safety and quality standards, are a cornerstone of ensuring the safety and quality of the food we put on our tables. Recognizing this priority, the Republic of Belarus has requested support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to facilitate a self-assessment by using the Food Control System Assessment Tool (FCSAT), developed by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Endemic grape varieties attract agri-tourists
15/04/2025
Living amidst grapevines that have been around since the time of his ancestors, it is no wonder Givi Chubinidze became convinced to follow in their footsteps. Here in the green valleys of Georgia’s Imereti region, bordered by the Likhi mountain range, endemic blue and purple grape varieties, such as tsitska, krakhuna and adanasuri, have been a part of the local landscape and cultural heritage for centuries.
FAO takes lead coordination role for the One Health approach in Europe and Central Asia
11/04/2025
The One Health approach recognizes the interconnections between people and ecosystems and aims to sustainably balance the health of people, plants, animals and the environment. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is strongly committed to this integrated, unifying approach. This was the core message, delivered by FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu at a high-level meeting of the Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism today in Copenhagen when the chairmanship of the Mechanism was handed over from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to FAO, ensuring continued collaboration on One Health priorities in the region.
Recover and redistribute: Georgia’s cities lead food loss & waste fight
28/03/2025
Recognizing the critical role of municipalities to reduce food loss and waste (FLW), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recently released a  publication on “Food Recovery and Distribution – A Practical Guide for Favourable Policies and Legal Frameworks in Europe and Central Asia”. This report provides timely guiding principles and recommendations for policymakers, particularly at the local level, to analyse and review their legal and policy frameworks to facilitate food recovery and redistribution—key elements of broader strategies to prevent and reduce FLW, and to support a circular bioeconomy. 
North Macedonia prepares against Peste des petits ruminants
27/03/2025
Peste des petits (PPR) ruminants outbreaks in Europe, effecting Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Hungary highlight the need prevention and control of this disease. The Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) of North Macedonia has organized a simulation exercise on PPR with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and experts from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.
Advancing climate-smart agriculture in Albania
19/03/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held an interactive lecture series at the Agricultural University of Tirana, engaging students in discussions on climate-smart agriculture and international plant protection standards. This event, part of the Business4SDGs Phase II project, aimed to bridge scientific research with practical implementation, equipping Albania’s future agricultural professionals with knowledge to address pressing global challenges.
FAO and the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia promote Codex standards
06/03/2025
Ensuring food safety and quality remains a top priority for North Macedonia. Codex Alimentarius standards are a crucial set of tools to ensure food safety and quality across the food chain from production through to consumption. Co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Food and Veterinary Agency of North Macedonia, a national event was held on 19 February dedicated to promoting the Codex standards. The event was another step in strengthening the country’s food safety and quality through the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund project.
FAO and Azerbaijan partner for better health outcomes through strengthened food consumption data
27/02/2025
On 27 February 2025, key stakeholders gathered in Baku for the national inception meeting of the project “Building Capacities on Food Consumption Data for Better Nutrition and Safer Food”. The initiative aims to equip Azerbaijan with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed, data-driven decisions that improve public health and nutrition. By strengthening national data systems, this project will help ensure that the people of Azerbaijan have access to safer, more nutritious food.
FAO assists in developing an aquaculture and fisheries workplace safety code for Central Asia and the Caucasus
26/02/2025
The safety of workers in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors worldwide remains a concern. Despite efforts by governing bodies and other responsible entities, the number of accidents in these fields continues to be persistently high globally. For this reason, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, organized a regional workshop to discuss a draft Code of Practice on Occupational Health and Safety in Aquaculture and Fisheries for Central Asia and the Caucasus.