Hungary hosted the Subregional Office for Central and Eastern Europe from 1995 up to the reclassification of the office as the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia as of 2007, and the Organization’s Shared Service Centre since 2008, offering the office space and covering maintenance costs. Both offices have been expanding significantly in recent years, with over 250 FAO personnel currently working in the Budapest offices and the positive trend is continuing.

The Regional Office coordinates FAO’s work in Europe and Central Asia, providing expertise in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, food safety and nutrition, trade and sustainable agricultural policy works. As part of the host country agreement, signed on 27 March 2007, Hungary also funds employees and junior technical officers who contribute to work in the region.

The Shared Services Centre provides a centralized administrative support system for FAO offices in more than 100 countries and employees worldwide, covering a range of essential services, including human resources support; user support; finance, vendor and fixed-assets management; and travel operations.

Since 1972, Hungary has been the host of the Codex Committee of Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS), which is responsible for the evaluation and endorsement of analytical and sampling methods to be used for testing compliance with standards set by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.

FAO enjoys strong cooperation with different technical institutions in Hungary, such as the University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

World Food Day…did you know?

Every year on 16 October, a special day is celebrated across the globe—thanks to the delegation of Hungary almost 50 years ago. Upon the initiative of Hungary, World Food Day which marks the founding of FAO in 1945 was endorsed by FAO Members at the Organization's 20th Conference in November 1979 and observed for the first time two years later. Today, collective action across 150 countries worldwide makes it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar, promoting awareness around food insecurity and calling on everyone to play a role in building a sustainable future.