FAOLEX Database Tutorial       🇪🇸 Español  
     
 
   
     

FAOLEX Database Tutorial

     

Consult agri-food and environmental legislation by country, sector, and date

   
   
     

1. What is FAOLEX?

     
       

FAOLEX is a legal database managed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), containing:

       
             
  • National laws, regulations, treaties, and policies
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  • Topics: agriculture, fisheries, food, biodiversity, plant and animal health
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  • Official sources from over 200 countries and territories
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          Note: It is constantly updated with translated and classified regulatory documents.        
     
   
   
     

2. Accessing the site

     
       
             
  1. Visit: FAOLEX Country Profiles
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  2. You can also access it from the general page
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  3. The interface is available in several languages, including English
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3. How to search for legislation

     
       
             
  1. Click on “Country Profiles”
    2.          
  2. Select a country from the map or the alphabetical list
    3.          
  3. Choose a category: Agriculture, Food, Water, Environment, Fisheries, etc.
    4.        
       

The page will display a list of national laws with the date, type of regulation, and access to the original document or translation.

     
   
   
     

4. Filters and categories

     
       

The regulations are classified by:

       
             
  • Type: law, regulation, policy, treaty
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  • Publication date
    •          
  • Language
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  • Specific topic: biotechnology, food safety, fisheries law, agricultural trade
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          Tip: Use keywords in English or Spanish to improve your results.        
     
   
   
     

5. Practical example

     
       

Example: Consulting legislation on food labeling in Mexico

       
             
  1. Select “Mexico” on the map
    2.          
  2. Filter by sector: “Food and Nutrition”
    3.          
  3. Click on a regulation like “Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-051”
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  4. Read the summary and access the original document in PDF
    5.        
       

This is useful for exporters, regulatory consultants, or researchers in the agri-food sector.

     
   
   
     

6. Final recommendations

     
       
             
  • Consult FAOLEX before exporting food, beverages, or agro-industrial products
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  • Verify if there are technical standards or health restrictions in force at the destination
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  • Use it as a complement to Market Access Map or Access2Markets
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Other useful resources

   
      🛃 Market Access Map       🌐 Access2Markets       📘 Rules of Origin       ⚖️ EUR-Lex       🌍 Export Potential Map