The inaugural FAO Treaty Ceremony was held at FAO headquarters during the 44th Session of the FAO Conference on 30 June 2025, in the Plenary Hall. The event took place in the broader context of the celebrations for the 80th Anniversary of the Organization.

 The Ceremony highlighted the 17 multilateral treaties adopted by Members under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. These treaties constitute an important component of FAO’s normative work, and the Ceremony served as a unique opportunity for Members to reaffirm their commitment to FAO’s work and mandate in key areas such as animal health, fisheries and fishing, desert locust control, and plant protection.

 During the Ceremony, Members had the opportunity to deposit, in person with the Director-General, instruments of ratification, accession, acceptance, approval, or adherence to the Article XIV Treaties to which they were not already a Party.

Five Member Nations made new deposits during the Ceremony:

• Congo deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Convention on the International Commission on Poplars and Other Fast-Growing Trees Sustaining People and the Environment.
• Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines each deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas.
• Solomon Islands deposited an instrument of acceptance of the 1983 and 1999 amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region.
• The United Republic of Tanzania deposited an instrument of accession to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

In addition, the Ceremony acknowledged the earlier deposits of instruments of accession in 2025 by four other Member Nations:

• South Africa to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (15 January 2025).
• Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and China to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (deposited on 6 January, 10 February, and 17 March 2025, respectively).

It was also recognized that the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing entered into force for Tuvalu on 29 June 2025, following its deposit of an instrument of accession on 30 May 2025.

 The Treaty Ceremony was a significant step forward in strengthening international cooperation and legal commitments in the areas addressed by the Article XIV Treaties. It was announced that the Treaty Ceremony will be held at each future session of the FAO Conference.