The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the agriculture and food sectors, and promoting sustainable rural communities. Defra oversees policies on climate change adaptation, biodiversity, water and air quality, animal health, fisheries, and environmental protection. Working with agencies, local authorities, and international partners, Defra plays a vital role in ensuring that the UK’s environment and natural resources are protected for future generations while supporting a strong, resilient, and sustainable economy.
In this article/post, we’ve provided contact details of UK defra, such as practical support email address, general animal welfare enquiries phone number, etc.
Animal health and welfare
Reporting animal cruelty by contacting the RSPCA or call 0300 1234 999
Practical support
To report suspicion of a notifiable disease in your animals (for example, bird flu)
Phone: 03000 200 301
General animal welfare enquiries (England)
Email: customeradvice@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 03000 200 301
General animal welfare enquiries (Wales)
Email: apha.cymruwales@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 303 8268
Animal welfare in transport enquiries
Email: wit@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 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
Email: exports@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving livestock to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain
Email: LivestockExports@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 020 0301
Moving horses and other equine animals between UK and EU member states or between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Email: EquineExportsCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 020 0301
Trading or moving endangered animals or plants listed under CITES
Email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 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
Email: fhi@cefas.co.uk
Phone: 01305 206700
Veterinary medicines authorisations and regulations
Email: postmaster@vmd.gov.uk
Phone: 01932 336911
Pet travel
Phone support
You can call the Pet Travel helpline on 03000 200 301. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm and is closed on bank holidays.
Practical support
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
Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
03708 506506
Chemicals and pesticides
Phone: 0330 159 1985
Farming and food
You can call them on 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm)
Practical support
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
Email: exports@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 020 0301
Exporting or moving livestock to the EU, Northern Ireland and non-EU countries from Great Britain
Email: LivestockExports@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 020 0301
Moving horses and other equine animals between UK and EU member states and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Email: EquineExportsCarlisle@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 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
Email: planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 1000 313
Pesticides including queries regarding potential residues in food and crop spraying
Phone: 0345 933 5577
Environmental protection farming related enquiries
Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Phone: 0300 060 3900
Food safety and hygiene, including imports of high risk food and feed
Email: helpline@food.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7276 8829
For all enquiries relating to Bovine TB
Email: tb.advice@apha.gov.uk
Phone: 03000 200 301
Fisheries
Protecting the marine environment, licences, regulation, marine control and enforcement
Email: info@marinemanagement.org.uk
Phone: 0300 123 1032
Fish export helpline
Phone: 0300 1591 989
Flooding
Floodline
You can:
call: 0345 988 1188 (24 hour service)
type talk: 0345 602 6340 (for the hard of hearing)
Wildlife, countryside and rural
Wood, wood products and isolated bark import and export and associated plant health requirements
Email: plant.health@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 067 5155
Other woodland questions, woodland management, and recreation
Email: nationalenquiries@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Phone: 0300 067 4000
Contact for Freedom of Information request
InformationRequests@defra.gov.uk or write to them at:
Information Rights Team (IRT)
Seacole Building
4th Floor
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
Alternative ways to contact Defra
You can contact them by calling their helpline: 03459 33 55 77. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Find out about call charges.
Submit your enquiry by post to:
Ministerial Contact Unit
Defra
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
Source: Defra