Contact Defra

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for improving and protecting the environment. We aim to grow a green economy and sustain rural communities. We also support our food, farming and fishing industries.

Defra is a department, supported by 34 agencies and public bodies.

You can read more about what we do. If your message is not related to what Defra covers, you should send it directly to the relevant department, agency or public body.

Contact form

You can use our contact form for Defra related enquiries.

Before contactingyou usstart

Before using the form you should check to see if we’ve already published information to answer your query. WeOur oftenmost getpopular enquiriestopics aboutand direct contacts are listed on this page.

Using the followingcontact topics:form

You should clearly title your query by subject area to help us allocate your enquiry to the right team.

We aim to respond to correspondence within 20-working days.

Read our contact form privacy notice.

Popular topics

• flooding: check warnings and river levels
• pet travel: entering/returning to the UK
• rural grants and payments
• bringing food, animals, plants into UK
• get your dog or cat microchipped
• spot and report bird flu in poultry or other captive birds
• report dead wild birds

Animal health and welfare

Find out about:

• reporting animal cruelty: contact the RSPCA or call 0300 1234 999
• caring for your pet
• getting your dog or cat microchipped

Practical support

Topic	Email	Contact number
To report suspicion of a notifiable disease in your animals (for example, bird flu)		03000 200 301
General animal welfare enquiries (England)	customeradvice@apha.gov.uk	03000 200 301
General animal welfare enquiries (Wales)	apha.cymruwales@apha.gov.uk	0300 303 8268
General animal welfare enquiries (Scotland): contact your local Field Services Office
Animal welfare in transport enquiries	wit@apha.gov.uk	03000 200 301
Exporting or moving animals and animal products (where an export health certificate is needed) to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain, and imports of live animals	exports@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving livestock to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain	LivestockExports@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Moving horses and other equine animals between UK and EU member states or between Great Britain and Northern Ireland	EquineExportsCarlisle@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Trading or moving endangered animals or plants listed under CITES	wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving live aquatic animals (fish, shellfish and crustaceans) for aquaculture and ornamental purposes (where an export health certificate is needed) to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain, and import of live aquatic animals	fhi@cefas.co.uk	01305 206700
Veterinary medicines authorisations and regulations	postmaster@vmd.gov.uk	01932 336911

Pet travel

Find out about:

• taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
• bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

General enquiries

• Pet Travel helpline: 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, closed on bank holidays)
• email: pettravel@apha.gov.uk

Environment

Report:

• a litter problem, dog fouling, fly-tipping or noise nuisance

Find out more about:

• local recycling and rubbish services
• fuels and appliances that can be used in Smoke Control Areas
• resolving neighbour disputes
• information for local authorities on Local Air Quality Management
• charges for single-use plastic carrier bags
• F gas: guidance for users, producers and traders

Chemicals regulations​

Check how to comply with UK REACH chemicals regulations.

For IT support, you can contact the:

• helpline:​ 0330 159 1985​
• mailbox:​ ukreachitsupport@defra.gov.uk

Practical support

Topic	Email	Contact number
Environmental permitting, industry and waste, water quality and resources, inland fisheries, navigation, conservation and ecology, and regulations for nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs), soil, silage and slurry	enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk	03708 506506
Chemicals and pesticides		0330 159 1985

Farming and food

Find out about:

• applying for support under the Basic Payment Scheme
• moving farm animals: what you need to know in order to identify, trace and move your cattle and sheep and goats
• preventing and controlling bovine TB
• bringing food into the UK
• importing food as a business
• food labelling and the law

Defra Rural Service

• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) scheme helpline covering legacy schemes, Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Countryside Stewardship (CS), and Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) queries and transaction support
• call: 03000 200 301 (Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 5pm)

Practical support

Topic	Email	Contact number
Exporting or moving animals and animal products (where an export health certificate is needed) to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain, and imports of live animals	exports@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving livestock to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain	LivestockExports@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Moving horses and other equine animals between UK and EU member states and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland	EquineExportsCarlisle@apha.gov.uk	0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving plants, plant products and seeds to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain, and importing plants, plant products and seeds to Great Britain	planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk	0300 1000 313
Pesticides including queries regarding potential residues in food and crop spraying	contact Health and Safety Executive	0345 933 5577
Environmental protection farming related enquiries	enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk	0300 060 3900
Food safety and hygiene, including imports of high risk food and feed	helpline@food.gov.uk	020 7276 8829
For all enquiries relating to Bovine TB	tb.advice@apha.gov.uk	03000 200 301

Fisheries

Find out about:

• fisheries regulation, monitoring and enforcement

Practical support

Topic	Email	Contact number
Protecting the marine environment, licences, regulation, marine control and enforcement	info@marinemanagement.org.uk	0300 123 1032
Fish export helpline		0300 1591 989

Flooding

Find out about:

• if you’re at risk of flooding
• reporting a flooding incident
• getting information about flood insurance

Floodline

• call: 0345 988 1188 (24 hour service)
• type talk: 0345 602 6340 (for the hard of hearing)

Wildlife, countryside and rural

Find out about:

• rural grants and payments
• census for rural England

Practical support

Topic	Email	Contact number
Wood, wood products and isolated bark import and export and associated plant health requirements	plant.health@forestrycommission.gov.uk	0300 067 5155
Other woodland questions, woodland management, and recreation	nationalenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk	0300 067 4000

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Campaigns

IfAs youwe wishreceive a large volume of correspondence in connection with campaigns, we may not always send individual responses. We will respond directly to contactthe uscampaign regardingorganiser in some instances.

Petitions

Petitions hosted on the UK Government and Parliament site receive a complaint,government followresponse ouronce complaintsthey procedure.have 10,000 signatures. More information on [how to petition the government]((https://www.gov.uk/petition-government).