Conventions, codes of conduct and instruments play an important role in the regulation, both voluntary and mandatory, of the use, transfer, protection, management and trade of biological diversity at the regional, national and international levels. The international conventions, codes of conduct and instruments on biodiversity relevant to food and agriculture are:

• Code of Conduct for Plant Germplasm Collecting and Transfer
• Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
• Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources & The Interlaken Declaration
• Global Plan of Action on the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• International Plant Protection Convention
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture