GOV.UK
UK Government rallies Commonwealth to unite on marine waste
The UK Government rallies Commonwealth to unite on marine waste, leading by example with ambitious plans to end sale of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton...
Department
for Environment
Food & Rural Affairs
Sports industry can be top of the league in reducing plastic pollution
Representatives from the sports sector will explore how the industry can tackle marine plastic pollution.
Clean-up work underway in Salisbury in next phase of recovery
Work is beginning in Salisbury to decontaminate potentially affected sites for the city and its visitors.
Commonwealth unites to end scourge of plastic
Countries from across the Commonwealth have today pledged to eliminate avoidable single use plastic in an ambitious bid to clean up the world’s oceans.
Asian hornet identified in Lancashire
An Asian hornet has been found in Lancashire and surveillance activity is underway.
Ban on live animal exports for slaughter explored by government
The Environment Secretary has launched a call for evidence for a potential ban on the live export of animals for slaughter once the UK leaves the EU.
Latest
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Lists of recognised animal breeding organisations
- updated
- Guidance
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Approved sheep and goat ear tag suppliers
- updated
- Guidance
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Protected food name scheme: UK applications being considered
- updated
- Collection
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.
Documents
Our announcements
Our consultations
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Environmental permitting: amending flood risk exclusions and exemptions
- Open consultation
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Litter and refuse: updating enforcement guidance
- Open consultation
Our publications
Our statistics
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Historical statistics notices on poultry and poultry meat production, 2018
- National Statistics
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Latest poultry and poultry meat statistics
- National Statistics
Our ministers
Our management
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Clare Moriarty
Permanent Secretary
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Professor Ian Boyd
Defra Chief Scientific Adviser
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Betsy Bassis
Director General, Chief Operating Officer
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Nick Joicey
Director General for Strategy, EU exit and Finance
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David Kennedy
Director General for Food, Farming and Biosecurity
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Sonia Phippard
Director General for Marine, Natural Environment and Rural
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Emma Howard Boyd
Ex officio Defra board member
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Andrew Sells
Ex officio Defra board member
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Henry Dimbleby
Non-executive board member
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Peter Bonfield
Non-executive board member
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Ben Goldsmith
Non-executive board member
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Paul Rew
Non-executive board member
Contact Defra
Defra Helpline
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact form https://www.gov.uk/gui...
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 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
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
Pet Travel Section
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX
Email pettravel@apha.gsi.gov.uk
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 at:
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.