NÉBIH

NÉBIH, short for Nemzeti Élelmezés- és Élelmiszerlánc-biztonsági Hivatal, or National Food Chain Safety Office, is a central government agency in Hungary responsible for supervising and enforcing safety and compliance across the food chain. Its remit covers food safety and quality, animal health and welfare, plant health and protection, and feed safety, as well as veterinary public health and plant protection services. The agency works to ensure compliance with Hungarian law and European Union food safety rules, and it issues authorisations, licenses, and registrations necessary for food business operators and agricultural activities.

NÉBIH conducts inspections and audits of farms, slaughterhouses, processing facilities, and food retailers; collects samples for laboratory analysis; and conducts market surveillance to detect non-compliance. It maintains traceability systems, coordinates risk assessments, and is responsible for recall procedures and corrective actions. The agency also participates in border controls for imports and exports at Hungary’s borders, issues health certificates and other documentation necessary for the movement of animals, products, and feed, and collaborates with other national authorities.

In addition to enforcement, NÉBIH provides information and guidance to businesses and consumers, and maintains public registers and data on establishments, inspections, and compliance outcomes. The agency was established in the early 2010s as part of a reform of Hungary’s food safety and agricultural oversight and aligns its work with EU law and standards.