Legal database
The Development Law Service (LEGN) contributes to and maintains a suite of user-friendly databases that provide comprehensive access to national legislation and international agreements pertinent to food, agriculture, and natural resources management.
FAOLEX
The FAOLEX database is one of the world’s largest online collections of national laws, regulations and policies on food, agriculture and natural resources. It encompasses over 250 countries, territories and regional economic integration organizations, with an average of 8000 new entries added every year. Users can access abstracts, indexing information, and the full text of legislation and policies in multiple languages.
Thematic databases
In addition to FAOLEX, LEGN manages several thematic databases that focus on specific areas within its mandate. These databases are open access and available for anyone to use:
AMR-LEX
Focuses on law and policies relevant to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) within the context of agri-food systems.
AQUALEX
Profiles national and transboundary legal and policy frameworks regarding water.
AgroecologyLex
Disseminates laws, regulations and policies concerning agroecology in different countries.
PORT-LEX
Compiles port state measures to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Legislation on Pastoralism
Disseminates laws, regulations and policies on pastoralism.
Database of Measures on Conservation and Management of Sharks
Disseminates laws, regulations and policies on the conservation and management of sharks.
FamilyFarmingLex
Covers legislation and policies related to family farming, including agroecology, forest farming, and small-scale fisheries.
National Aquaculture Legislative Overview (NALO)
Provides country profiles of national legal frameworks on aquaculture.
SoiLEX
Provides information on legal instruments related to soil protection and prevention of soil degradation.
SSF-LEX
Details national legal frameworks on small-scale fisheries.
TimberLex
Offers country-specific legal information on forest management, timber production, and trade.
Gender-Lex
A cross-cutting thematic database of FAOLEX, providing free access to national and international legal and policy instruments on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme - Legal Hub
A database to access legislative and regulatory instruments and their analysis across all the sectors applicable to the sustainable management of wildlife.
The right to Food around the Globe
Provides access to national commitments on the right to adequate food. The platform contains quotes of national Constitutions and specifies the ratification status of some key international instruments in matter of right to adequate food.
