DEFRA

What DEFRA does

Contact DEFRA

Types of regulation

Official guidance from DEFRA

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

• Extended producer responsibility for packaging who is affected and what to do
  Detailed Guidance
• Comply with UK REACH
  Detailed Guidance
• Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance (DEFRA 2012)
  Publication
• Pollution prevention for businesses
  Detailed Guidance
• Simpler Recycling guidance (GOV.UK)
  Detailed Guidance
• Animal by-products: categories, approval, hygiene and disposal
  Detailed Guidance
• Check if you need to pay a Clean Air Zone charge
  Detailed Guidance
• Farming Rules for Water guidance
  Detailed Guidance

View all 52 guidance documents →

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
• 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 14 more statutory instruments

Related legislation

Legislation connected to DEFRA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

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

View all 16 documents →

Sectors regulated