What we do

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.

Read more about what we do

Our policies

  1. Waste and recycling
  2. Common Agricultural Policy reform
  3. Flooding and coastal change
  4. Food and farming industry
  5. Environmental quality

See all our policies

Documents

Our announcements

  1. New Clean Air Strategy to be launched by Environment Secretary Michael Gove

    • Press release

  2. Decontamination work complete at Maltings site in Salisbury

    • News story

See all our announcements

Our consultations

  1. Waste electrical and electronic equipment: amending the 2013 UK regulations

    • Consultation outcome

  2. Drinking water quality: monitoring safety and quality of spring water and bottled drinking water

    • Consultation outcome

See all our consultations

Our publications

  1. Mid Tier: Countryside Stewardship

    • Guidance

  2. Upland Offer: Countryside Stewardship

    • Guidance

See all our publications

Our statistics

  1. Historical statistics notices on the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in the UK, 2018

    • National Statistics

  2. Latest cattle, sheep and pig slaughter statistics

    • National Statistics

See all our statistics

Our ministers

Our management

Contact Defra

Defra Helpline

Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

The quickest way to get a response is to call our Helpline which is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm (find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges). Alternatively you can use our contact form, or write to us at the postal address given above. We aim to reply to emails or letters within fifteen working days.

Defra Rural Services helpline

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

Pet Travel Section
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

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

  1. Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request
  2. Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question
  3. Make a new request by contacting us at:

Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests

Customer Contact Unit
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

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.