In Hungary, animal health and plant protection are primarily governed by the National Food Chain Safety Office (abbr. NÉBIH), established in 2012. NÉBIH operates under the Ministry of Agriculture, and its responsibilities span across a wide spectrum of food chain safety, from plant protection to veterinary public health. This integrated approach reflects broader EU efforts to harmonise biosecurity practices, particularly within the EU’s regulatory framework.1 Before the establishment of NÉBIH, Hungary had separate institutions managing these fields. Plant protection was handled by the Plant Protection Directorate, while animal health was overseen by the Veterinary Services. 2 The integration of these services into NÉBIH has allowed for more efficient resource use, a unified regulatory approach, and a streamlined administrative structure for ensuring food safety and agricultural biosecurity.3 NÉBIH’s comprehensive mandate covers both animal and plant health, making it responsible for enforcing regulations regarding plant diseases, invasive pests, animal health, and food chain safety. This unified structure allows NÉBIH to conduct a regular surveillance for animal diseases (such as African swine fever) and plant pests (like the Colorado potato beetle), integrating these efforts to prevent cross-sector risks and ensure swift responses.4 A critical part of NÉBIH’s mission involves controlling the movement of plants and animals across Hungary’s borders. Hungary, as part of the EU’s internal market, implements EU-wide phytosanitary and veterinary standards, ensuring that plant and animal health regulations are met in both domestic and international trade.5 NÉBIH oversees compliance with laws related to plant protection and animal health. This includes the enforcement of EU regulations such as the EU Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and animal health directives.6 Its inspectors monitor the application of pesticides, the use of veterinary medicines, and ensure that both sectors comply with safety standards. NÉBIH is tasked with managing emergency responses to outbreaks of animal diseases (e.g., avian influenza) and plant pests.7 The integrated administrative structure enables rapid coordination between departments to tackle biosecurity risks that could potentially affect both sectors simultaneously.8 Hungary employs a decentralised approach, where regional and local offices of NÉBIH collaborate with municipal authorities to carry out inspections, enforce regulations, and respond to local animal and plant health issues. This system allows for tailored responses to regional needs while maintaining alignment with EU standards.9