Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We are responsible for improving and protecting the environment. We aim to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities. We also support our world-leading food, farming and fishing industries. Defra is a ministerial department, supported by 34 agencies and public bodies.

Website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

Ministers

• The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP
  Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• The Rt Hon Lord Benyon
  Minister of State (Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs)
• The Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP
  Minister of State (Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries)
• Trudy Harrison MP
  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use)
• Rebecca Pow MP
  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience)

Petitions linked to this department

Sorted by date, most recent first

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• Oldest
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• Require panels of lay people to review abattoir CCTV footage for potential abuse
  Opened on Monday 9th February 2026
  515 signatures so far

• Require Disclosure of All Pesticide Residues and Processing Aids on Food Labels
  Opened on Friday 6th February 2026
  144 signatures so far

• Create a national database of convicted animal abusers
  Opened on Friday 6th February 2026
  10,637 signatures so far

• Ban commercial dog breeding while rescues are over capacity
  Opened on Thursday 5th February 2026
  60 signatures so far

• Make it a legal requirement for dog owners to have insurance
  Opened on Tuesday 3rd February 2026
  58 signatures so far

• Ban the use of all pest control methods against pigeons
  Opened on Tuesday 3rd February 2026
  728 signatures so far

• Ban the use of netting on roofs and outdoor structures
  Opened on Tuesday 3rd February 2026
  17,436 signatures so far

• Amend the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act for rescued pets
  Opened on Tuesday 3rd February 2026
  41 signatures so far

• Stop the ban on trail hunting
  Opened on Monday 2nd February 2026
  23,039 signatures so far

• Allow small pets to travel in the cabin on flights entering the UK
  Opened on Monday 2nd February 2026
  14,267 signatures so far

• Do not implement a ban on the use of aversive dog training tools
  Opened on Monday 2nd February 2026
  887 signatures so far

• Amend avian flu regulations to allow the vaccination of swans and wildfowl
  Opened on Friday 30th January 2026
  394 signatures so far

• Introduce prison sentences for deliberate cruelty to wild birds including pigeon
  Opened on Friday 30th January 2026
  21,244 signatures so far

• Require vets to inform owners if medicine is available cheaper elsewhere
  Opened on Friday 30th January 2026
  65 signatures so far

• Ban the sale of rope toys for animals
  Opened on Friday 30th January 2026
  52 signatures so far

• Repeal the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, introduce new laws on penalties & education
  Opened on Thursday 29th January 2026
  1,904 signatures so far

• Provide funding to dig out and clean all rivers
  Opened on Tuesday 27th January 2026
  74 signatures so far

• Review the UK Novel Foods Regs to allow medical mushrooms for human consumption
  Opened on Monday 26th January 2026
  188 signatures so far

• Create an NHS for animals
  Opened on Monday 26th January 2026
  73 signatures so far

• Ban exports of recyclable waste to non-OECD countries
  Opened on Friday 23rd January 2026
  62 signatures so far

• Require permanent, maintained grass strips for public footpaths crossing fields
  Opened on Friday 23rd January 2026
  24 signatures so far

• Nationalise public utilities & set up a committee of the public to oversee them
  Opened on Thursday 22nd January 2026
  156 signatures so far

• Ban the use of solid fuel/ wood burning stoves in residential areas
  Opened on Wednesday 21st January 2026
  80 signatures so far

• Provide a veterinary service funded by additional tax contributions
  Opened on Wednesday 21st January 2026
  29 signatures so far

• Require vets to provide free lifesaving care for pets
  Opened on Tuesday 20th January 2026
  73 signatures so far

• Ban 3G rubber crumb on new artificial pitches and display health info notices
  Opened on Tuesday 20th January 2026
  1,758 signatures so far

• Ban the breeding of cats with extreme physical traits
  Opened on Tuesday 20th January 2026
  61 signatures so far

• Make horse tethering on roads and pavements illegal
  Opened on Tuesday 20th January 2026
  51 signatures so far

• Ban the sale and use of rat poison due to the negative impact on wildlife
  Opened on Monday 19th January 2026
  253 signatures so far

• Classify reindeer as domesticated farm animals and end Zoo Licensing requirement
  Opened on Friday 16th January 2026
  2,947 signatures so far

• Review law around treatment of animals in labs
  Opened on Tuesday 13th January 2026
  158 signatures so far

• Remove VAT from pet food and prescription medications for pets
  Opened on Tuesday 13th January 2026
  232 signatures so far

• Increase the charge of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets.
  Opened on Tuesday 13th January 2026
  36 signatures so far

• Change laws regarding abuse of multiple animals
  Opened on Tuesday 13th January 2026
  11,115 signatures so far

• Review and reform legal status of pets, and rules on animal control equipment
  Opened on Thursday 8th January 2026
  10,991 signatures so far

• Ban the manufacture, import and sale of Rawhide as a dog treat
  Opened on Wednesday 7th January 2026
  1,071 signatures so far

• Mandate a 72-hour period before formal acceptance of a dog surrender document
  Opened on Wednesday 7th January 2026
  2,355 signatures so far

• Mandate licensed veterinary professional supervision after surgical procedures
  Opened on Wednesday 7th January 2026
  28 signatures so far

• Restrict entry to 1 puppy and require review of pedigree and sale at the border
  Opened on Tuesday 6th January 2026
  254 signatures so far

• Amend law on puppy imports to provide exceptions for rescue organisations
  Opened on Tuesday 6th January 2026
  43 signatures so far

• Protect cats from the cold: require owners to ensure access to shelter indoors
  Opened on Monday 5th January 2026
  80 signatures so far

• Scrap the incoming ban of all online promotion of junk food
  Opened on Monday 22nd December 2025
  20 signatures so far

• Ban factories from producing single use plastic bottles for still drinks
  Opened on Friday 19th December 2025
  162 signatures so far

• Launch a review of UK fishing laws
  Opened on Friday 19th December 2025
  1,125 signatures so far

• Require animal crossing road signs and lower speed limits in residential areas
  Opened on Friday 19th December 2025
  39 signatures so far

• Legally require drivers who hit a cat to take them to a vet
  Opened on Thursday 18th December 2025
  115 signatures so far

• Grant interim exemptions to all seized dogs with no prior history of aggression
  Opened on Wednesday 17th December 2025
  6,581 signatures so far

• Require domestic cats to be kept inside April-September and wear belled collars
  Opened on Tuesday 16th December 2025
  312 signatures so far

• Ban the Use of E171 (Titanium Dioxide) in Food Products in the UK
  Opened on Tuesday 16th December 2025
  53 signatures so far

• Ban large solar farms on high-quality farmland and mandate BESS safety zones
  Opened on Monday 15th December 2025
  1,746 signatures so far

• New Law on adoption and muzzling of greyhound dogs
  Opened on Friday 12th December 2025
  198 signatures so far

• Require all dogs to be kept on leads in public places
  Opened on Friday 12th December 2025
  285 signatures so far

• Ban fireworks in residential areas to prevent stress to people and animals
  Opened on Wednesday 10th December 2025
  717 signatures so far

• Ban both private and public use of fireworks & replace with cleaner alternatives
  Opened on Wednesday 10th December 2025
  218 signatures so far

• Ban purchasing & owning African Pygmy Hedgehogs
  Opened on Tuesday 9th December 2025
  111 signatures so far

• Mandate food businesses keep nut containing products separate
  Opened on Tuesday 9th December 2025
  21 signatures so far

• Require medical history to be listed on horse passports
  Opened on Monday 8th December 2025
  582 signatures so far

• Regulate equine hoof trimming
  Opened on Friday 5th December 2025
  126 signatures so far

• Introduce a Central Microchip Portal to help reunite missing pets without delay
  Opened on Friday 5th December 2025
  21,893 signatures so far

• Require all educational establishments to show nutritional information on food
  Opened on Thursday 4th December 2025
  33 signatures so far

• Mandate independently-monitored CCTV in all dairy farms and slaughterhouses
  Opened on Tuesday 2nd December 2025
  5,866 signatures so far

• Ban seed oils
  Opened on Tuesday 2nd December 2025
  51 signatures so far

• Ban all forms of animal mutilation unless required for essential veterinary care
  Opened on Tuesday 2nd December 2025
  105 signatures so far

• Regulate and reform veterinary care
  Opened on Monday 1st December 2025
  104 signatures so far

• Set legal limits for PFAS in drinking water, ban PFAS in consumer goods and food
  Opened on Thursday 27th November 2025
  469 signatures so far

• Disallow fixed charges on fresh water and wastewater on water bill.
  Opened on Thursday 27th November 2025
  68 signatures so far

• Allow the release of wild boar and introduce a statutory close shooting season

• Allow the release of wild boar and introduce a statutory close shooting season
  Opened on Monday 24th November 2025
  36 signatures so far

• Require food labelled as "gluten-free" on menus to be cross-contamination free
  Opened on Monday 24th November 2025
  112 signatures so far

• Mandate information about added sugars on nutritional food labels
  Opened on Thursday 20th November 2025
  34 signatures so far

• Allow charities to rescue dogs with docked tails under the Animal Welfare Bill
  Opened on Monday 17th November 2025
  23,242 signatures so far

• Stronger penalties for animal cruelty and stricter regulations on animal sales
  Opened on Friday 14th November 2025
  342 signatures so far

• Regulate labelling of products and services as sustainable
  Opened on Wednesday 12th November 2025
  65 signatures so far

• Make it illegal to keep or sell social animals like guinea pigs alone
  Opened on Wednesday 12th November 2025
  192 signatures so far

• Make it law that animal charities must obtain vets notes regardless of health
  Open from Friday 7th November 2025 to Thursday 7th May 2026
  33 signatures

• Remove fishing license fees
  Open from Friday 7th November 2025 to Thursday 7th May 2026
  37 signatures

• Set a minimum slaughter age of 25 for cattle.
  Open from Monday 27th October 2025 to Monday 27th April 2026
  75 signatures

• Ban culling of hatched male chicks.
  Open from Monday 27th October 2025 to Monday 27th April 2026
  328 signatures

• Outright ban on all XL Bully dogs
  Open from Wednesday 15th October 2025 to Wednesday 15th April 2026
  226 signatures

• Ban aspartame in our food and drinks
  Open from Wednesday 15th October 2025 to Wednesday 15th April 2026
  214 signatures

• Review and reform UK allergy laws & labelling standards for milk allergies
  Open from Thursday 9th October 2025 to Thursday 9th April 2026
  34 signatures

• Restrict building public bonfires to within 48 hours of the event
  Open from Thursday 9th October 2025 to Thursday 9th April 2026
  105 signatures

• Review and centrally Record Pet Euthanasia Data
  Open from Tuesday 7th October 2025 to Tuesday 7th April 2026
  13,099 signatures

• Label ALL meat as Religiously Slaughtered or Non-Religiously Slaughtered
  Open from Monday 29th September 2025 to Sunday 29th March 2026
  52,269 signatures

• All wastewater to be filtered of chemicals, pharmaceuticals & microplastics
  Open from Friday 26th September 2025 to Thursday 26th March 2026
  378 signatures

• Mandate clear labelling of Coconut Oil and Palm Kernel Oil on food products
  Open from Thursday 25th September 2025 to Wednesday 25th March 2026
  467 signatures

• Reduce the sound of fireworks to under 80 decibels for humans and animals
  Open from Wednesday 24th September 2025 to Tuesday 24th March 2026
  4,533 signatures

• Licence all dog breeders and limit litters to one per dog
  Open from Tuesday 23rd September 2025 to Monday 23rd March 2026
  83 signatures

• Ban labels from saying "may contain" regarding allergens
  Open from Monday 15th September 2025 to Sunday 15th March 2026
  168 signatures

• Review practice and introduce licensing and regulation for dog professionals
  Open from Monday 15th September 2025 to Sunday 15th March 2026
  2,302 signatures

• Ban fish-shaped single-use plastic soy sauce dispensers
  Open from Tuesday 9th September 2025 to Monday 9th March 2026
  94 signatures

• Make all domestic animal breeding a regulated practice protecting the animals
  Open from Monday 8th September 2025 to Sunday 8th March 2026
  80 signatures

• Make all domestic animal breeding a regulated practice protecting the animals

• More funding into weather forecasting technology & making data more accessible
  Open from Thursday 4th September 2025 to Wednesday 4th March 2026
  118 signatures

• Reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels
  Open from Thursday 4th September 2025 to Wednesday 4th March 2026
  184,376 signatures

• Don't allow councils to require street food licenses on private land
  Open from Tuesday 2nd September 2025 to Monday 2nd March 2026
  29 signatures

• Require non-stunned and stunned meat to be labelled accordingly
  Open from Monday 1st September 2025 to Sunday 1st March 2026
  115,946 signatures

• Strengthen the Allotments Act 1908 with a time limit and mandatory acquisition.
  Open from Monday 1st September 2025 to Sunday 1st March 2026
  123 signatures

• Ban the non-stun slaughter of animals
  Open from Monday 1st September 2025 to Sunday 1st March 2026
  31,871 signatures

• Ban the use of pesticides in children’s playgrounds and in schools in England
  Open from Monday 1st September 2025 to Sunday 1st March 2026
  290 signatures

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