Contact Defra
Information to help you answer your query before you contact us.
Before contacting us you should check to see if we’ve already published information to answer your query. We often get enquiries about the following 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 | 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:
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:
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
Guidance
Practical support
| Topic | 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 | 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:
Practical support
| Topic | 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:
Practical support
| Topic | 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 |
How to contact us
To contact us regarding policy enquiries (not covered by the above guidance) please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk
You should clearly label your query by subject area to help us allocate your enquiry to the right team.
You can also contact us by calling our Helpline: 03459 33 55 77. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm. Find out about call charges.
If you wish to contact us regarding a complaint, follow our complaints procedure.
Updates to this page
Published 30 May 2017Last updated 27 September 2024 + show all updates
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Updated the Pet Travel helpline telephone number to 03000 200 301.
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Updated with a link to new guidance about reporting dead wild birds.
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Minor changes to remove references to postal queries during coronavirus.
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Updated contact information for enquires about goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
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Removed the 1-3 January helpline information and added fish exports and chemicals helplines to the main lists
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Updated the information under the 'How to contact us' heading.
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Minor changes to the "Animal health and welfare" section to clarify where queries should be directed during coronavirus outbreak.
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Updated the email contact for Veterinary medicines authorisations and regulations (postmaster@vmd.gov.uk).
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Updated page to make it clear there will be delays to postal queries during the COVID19 outbreak.
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Updated the contact details under the online services helpdesks heading.
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Updated the email address for queries related to exports of animal, animal products (where export health certificate needed) and imports of live animals.
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Added contact details for IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system) and SAM service
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additional contact references covering EU Exit
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Added a new section to cover our online services.
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We've changed our contact arrangements to amended email addresses.
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First published.