Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
for Environment
Food & Rural Affairs
Featured
Increased support for fishing and shellfish businesses
Press release
Expanded Seafood Response Fund for the UK’s seafood and aquaculture sectors.
Gene editing creates potential to protect the nation’s environment, pollinators and wildlife
Press release
Consultation on future of gene editing to be launched by Environment Secretary at Oxford Farming Conference.
Cat microchipping consultation launched
Press release
Government seeks views on introducing compulsory cat microchipping in England.
Measures announced to support farmers and growers next year, including an extended and expanded Seasonal Workers Pilot
68 projects to receive a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery
Avian influenza (bird flu): Latest situation
News story
New housing measures came into force in England, Scotland and Wales on 14 December.
Latest from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
What the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs does
We are the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
Defra is a ministerial department, supported by 33 agencies and public bodies.
Follow us
Documents
Services
See all servicesPolicy papers and consultations
See all policy papers and consultationsTransparency and freedom of information releases
- Defra: spending over £500, November 2020
- 70th annual report to Parliament on smallholdings in England
Our ministers
Our management
Contact Defra
Defra Helpline
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Telephone (UK only)
03459 33 55 77
Telephone (from outside the UK)
+44 20 7238 6951
The quickest way to get a response is to call our Helpline which is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm (find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges), alternatively you can email us.
Postal queries are unlikely to be answered until lockdown restrictions are relaxed, as the majority of our staff are working from home.
We aim to respond to queries within 20 working days, however due to the current volumes of correspondence we are receiving there could be a significant delay.
Defra Rural Services helpline
Telephone
03000 200 301
Contact the Defra Rural Services helpline for farming-related advice.
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.
You should also call us 24/7 to report suspicion of notifiable disease in animals.
Find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges.
Pet Travel Scheme helpline
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX
United Kingdom
Pet Travel Scheme helpline
0370 241 1710
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays).
Find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges.
Make an FOI request
- Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request.
- Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question.
- Make a new request by contacting us using the details below.
Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
During the COVID-19 outbreak, we will not be answering any postal queries. Please send your queries by email. If you send an email, please remember to include a return email address.
High profile groups within Defra
Corporate information
Jobs and contracts
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.