Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (often abbreviated as DEFRA) is a department of the United Kingdom government responsible for policies and regulations related to the environment, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in England.

History

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was formed in June 2001, following the perceived failure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to adequately respond to the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak. The department was created by merging the MAFF with several parts of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Home Office.

Responsibilities

DEFRA's main responsibilities include:

• Setting policy and regulations for the environment
• Overseeing the food industry in the UK, including food safety and standards
• Managing agriculture and fisheries policy
• Overseeing rural affairs including the rural economy and community issues

Structure

The department is overseen by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The current Secretary of State is George Eustice. The department also has a number of agencies and public bodies under its control, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Criticism and Controversy

DEFRA has faced criticism for its handling of various issues, including the badger cull in England, the horse meat scandal in 2013, and its response to flooding in the UK.

See also

• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
• Department of Health and Social Care
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy