The administration of animal and plant health is critical for maintaining the integrity of ecosystems, the economy, and public health. Legal frameworks provide the necessary structure for regulating activities that impact these areas. Understanding the legal subjects involved in this administration is essential for ensuring compliance and effective governance. The regulation and administration of animal and plant protection within the European Union involve a complex framework of legislation, directives, and regulations aimed at safeguarding public health, the environment, and the economy. This review provides a detailed examination of the international and the Hungarian legal and administrative mechanisms in place, highlighting key regulations, the roles of various institutions, and the interplay between EU-wide and national-level governance.

Let us concentrate now on the priority administrative tasks of state-level animal health organisations (abbr. AHOs). These institutions focus on protecting public and animal health, ensuring food safety, and supporting the livestock industry. These tasks typically include:

It is increasingly common for animal health and plant protection to be administratively managed within the same institution at the state level. These two areas of biosecurity are closely interlinked, as they both play critical roles in safeguarding agriculture, the environment, and public health. Coordinating animal health and plant protection under a unified administrative framework allows for more efficient responses to biosecurity threats, particularly as many pests and diseases can affect both plants and animals, either directly or through complex ecological interactions.10 Both fields aim to prevent and control the spread of diseases that threaten food security and biodiversity. For instance, pests and pathogens that affect plant health can indirectly impact animal health by disrupting food supplies, degrading habitats, or carrying vector-borne diseases. Similarly, diseases in animals, particularly zoonotic diseases, can have significant consequences for ecosystems, including the plants within them. An integrated approach allows for the optimisation of resources and expertise to manage these interconnected risks.11 The administrative overlap is particularly evident in biosecurity and quarantine programmes. Coordinating quarantine procedures for both plants and animals under a single authority ensures a streamlined process for monitoring imports, exports, and interstate movements, reducing the risk of introducing harmful organisms.12 This synergy can lead to more comprehensive surveillance systems, better regulatory compliance, and faster response times to biosecurity emergencies.