Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
for Environment
Food & Rural Affairs
Featured
Press release
Five-year beaver reintroduction trial successfully completed
Defra to consult on the management of beavers in the wild and national approach for any further releases later this year.
News story
Plastic carrier bag sales slashed by more than 95% since 5p charge introduced
Latest data shows a 59% drop in plastic carrier bag sales in the last year alone in main supermarkets, with charities receiving nearly £180 million since 2015.
Press release
Don’t get Petfished: Vets and celebrities lead public warnings against ‘cruel and opportunist’ lockdown pet sellers
Prospective puppy and kitten owners warned of risks of being ‘Petfished’ when buying a pet online following lockdown demand surge
Press release
Green light for ground-breaking bovine TB vaccine field trials
World-leading bovine tuberculosis (bTB) TB cattle vaccination trials to start in England and Wales.
Speech
George Eustice speech on environmental recovery: 20 July 2020
Environment Secretary George Eustice has set out his vision for a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Press release
Multi-billion pound investment as government unveils new long-term plan to tackle flooding
336,000 properties in England better protected from flooding by 2027 with record £5.2 billion investment
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
Policy papers and consultations
- Bathing waters: designation of an area of the River Wharfe, Ilkley
- Reservoir safety: making reservoir emergency on-site flood plans
Transparency and freedom of information releases
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commercial pipeline data: 2020
- Defra: spending over £500, May 2020
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, or write to us at the postal address given above. We aim to reply to emails within fifteen working days. During the COVID-19 outbreak, as we work from home, responses to postal queries will be significantly delayed.
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.