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. Yorkshire will be better protected from floods this winter

    • Press release

  2. UK ban on modern day ivory sales

    • Press release

See all our announcements

Our consultations

  1. Water abstraction licensing: changes to exemptions in England and Wales

    • Consultation outcome

  2. Local Authority environmental regulation fees and charges 2016 review: call for evidence

    • Open consultation

See all our consultations

Our publications

  1. Qualitative risk assessment: risk of chronic wasting disease being introduced into Great Britain

    • Research and analysis

  2. Women’s land army and timber corps: veteran's badge application form

    • Form

See all our publications

Our statistics

  1. Latest UK milk prices and composition of milk

    • National Statistics

  2. Historical statistics notices on UK milk prices and composition of milk, 2016

    • National Statistics

See all our statistics

Our ministers

Our management

Contact Defra

Defra Helpline

Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

The quickest way to get a response is to call our Helpline which is open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (find out about call charges at www.gov.uk/call-charges). Alternatively you can email us at defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk 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.
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, 8am to 6pm (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
Area 3B
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

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.