Regulator profile
DEFRA
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Policy Department4 areas of regulation · 51 laws enforced · England
What DEFRA does
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies (EA, NE) on implementation. Oversees animal health and welfare standards.
Additional information
Policy department - implementation via Environment Agency, Natural England, APHA, RPA. Scotland, Wales, NI have devolved equivalents.
Contact DEFRA
Types of regulation
Agriculture
Animal Welfare
Environmental Policy
Fisheries
Legal framework
Legislation that DEFRA directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Plant Health Act 1967 Act 1967
- Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 Act 1967
- Agriculture Act 1970 (Part IV - Seeds) Act 1970
- Conservation of Seals Act 1970 Act 1970
- Animal Health Act 1981 Act 1981
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Act 1981
- Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984 Act 1984
- Agriculture Act 1986 Act 1986
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 Act 1990
- Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Act 1991
- Deer Act 1991 Act 1991
- Water Resources Act 1991 Act 1991
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Act 1992
- Clean Air Act 1993 Act 1993
- Environment Act 1995 Act 1995
- Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 Act 1997
- Pesticides Act 1998 Act 1998
- Tax Credits (Initial Expenditure) Act 1998 (repealed) Act 1998
- Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 Act 1999
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Act 2000
- Animal Welfare Act 2006 Act 2006
- Agriculture Act 2020 Act 2020
- Fisheries Act 2020 Act 2020
- Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 Act 2021
- Environment Act 2021 (enhancement) Act 2021
- Dogs Act 1871 Act
Secondary legislation
- Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 UK Statutory Instrument 1991
- Disease Control (England) Order 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 UK Statutory Instrument 2003
- The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006 UK Statutory Instrument 2006
- Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 UK Statutory Instrument 2006
- Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- ... and 15 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to DEFRA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
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Horticulture Act 1960
UK Act of Parliament 1960 -
AHA 1986
UK Act of Parliament 1986 -
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Upper Thames Tributaries) Designation Order 1994
UK Statutory Instrument 1994 -
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Upper Thames Tributaries) Designation (Amendment) Order 1996
UK Statutory Instrument 1996 -
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Upper Thames Tributaries) Designation (Amendment) Order 1998
UK Statutory Instrument 1998 -
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Upper Thames Tributaries) Designation (Amendment) Order 1999
UK Statutory Instrument 1999 -
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
UK Act of Parliament 2006 -
Water Act 2014
UK Act of Parliament 2014 -
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
UK Statutory Instrument 2018 -
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Miscellaneous Amendments ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
UK Statutory Instrument 2019 -
The Customs Tariff (Preferential Trade Arrangements and Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
UK Statutory Instrument 2021 -
The Environment Agency (Upper Black Moss and Lower Black Moss Reservoirs) Drought Order 2022
UK Statutory Instrument 2022 -
Animals (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2023
UK Statutory Instrument 2023 -
Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2023
UK Statutory Instrument 2023 -
Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025
UK Statutory Instrument 2025 - … and 3 more
Referenced in enforcement
-
Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948, Schedule 5 (opens in a new tab)
UK Act of Parliament 1948 -
Forestry Act 1967, Section 9
UK Act of Parliament 1967 -
Forestry (Exceptions from Restriction of Felling) Regulations 1979
UK Statutory Instrument 1979 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (No. 2) Regulations 1987
UK Statutory Instrument 1987 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations 1987
UK Statutory Instrument 1987 -
The Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988
UK Statutory Instrument 1988 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations 1988
UK Statutory Instrument 1988 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Scotland) Regulations 1988
UK Statutory Instrument 1988 -
The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988
UK Statutory Instrument 1988 -
Food Safety Act 1990
UK Act of Parliament 1990 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations 1990
UK Statutory Instrument 1990 -
The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Amendment) Regulations 1990
UK Statutory Instrument 1990 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1992
UK Statutory Instrument 1992 -
The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Amendment) Regulations 1992
UK Statutory Instrument 1992 -
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 1993
UK Statutory Instrument 1993 - … and 69 more
Other publications
16 additional documents from DEFRA.
-
Apply for a building assessment certificate
Published 15 January 2024
-
Make off-site biodiversity gains as a developer
Published 29 November 2023
-
Make on-site biodiversity gains as a developer
Published 29 November 2023
-
Introduction to national infrastructure planning
Published 12 October 2023
-
Register your business as a building control approver
Published 10 October 2023
Sectors regulated
Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and pets
Environment
Coverage area
England