The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a government department in the UK.

We cover – we make policy and legislation, and work with others to deliver our policies in - areas such as:

• the natural environment, biodiversity, plants and animals
• sustainable development and the green economy
• food, farming and fisheries
• animal health and welfare
• environmental protection and pollution control
• rural communities and issues.

Although we only work directly in England, we work closely with the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and we generally lead on negotiations in the EU and internationally.

• Read more about the department, including key facts and figures
• Read more about our priorities and objectives

The Government believes that we need to protect the environment for future generations, make our economy more environmentally sustainable, and improve our quality of life and well-being. We also believe that much more needs to be done to support the farming industry, protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable food production.

Recent publications

• Good news for sheep tagged before 2010

• Farm and forestry improvement scheme (FFIS) guidance document

• Workforce Monitoring

• The Government’s response to Sir Michael Pitts review of the summer 2007 floods – Final progress report

• The Environment in the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories: UK Government and Civil Society Support

• Social Impacts and Wellbeing: multi-criteria analysis techniques for integrating non-monetary evidence in valuation and appraisal

• Exercise Watermark final report

• Water for life – market reform proposals

• The independent review of charging for household water and sewerage services (Walker review)

• Competition and innovation in the water markets (Cave review)

All ‘About Defra’ publications