Call for comments on a revised draft risk profile of a substance proposed as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) 2026
Page summary:
Call for comments on a draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, excluding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
5:03pm, 9 March 2026
Call for comments on a revised indicative list for long-chain PFCAs, PFOA and PFHxS, their salts and related compounds 2026
Page summary:
Call for comments on a revised draft indicative list for long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, including their salts and related compounds.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
5:07pm, 9 March 2026
Strategic Policy Statement for the Environment Agency
Page summary:
The government’s expectations for how the Environment Agency supports environmental protection, growth, water reform and national resilience.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:30pm, 12 March 2026
Businesses urged to take simple steps for smoother trade with the EU
Page summary:
Businesses are being urged to take simple steps to prepare for the landmark EU agri-food deal, that will cut costs, slash red tape and open up opportunities for exporters and importers.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
12:01am, 9 March 2026
UK-EU SPS Agreement – Legislation in scope
Page summary:
To cut red tape and costs for importing and exporting with the EU, the UK will align with EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) legislation.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
8:30am, 9 March 2026
UK-EU SPS Agreement – Information for Businesses
Page summary:
Businesses urged to take simple steps for smoother trade with the EU
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
8:30am, 9 March 2026
SPS agreement: preparing your business
Page summary:
Prepare your business for the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement if you trade or move plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
8:59am, 9 March 2026
Businesses in Northern Ireland urged to prepare for smoother GB-NI and EU trade
Page summary:
Negotiations underway on UK-EU deal to make trade easier, cheaper and quicker, with Northern Ireland at the heart of the talks
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
11:54am, 9 March 2026
Lumpy skin disease in Europe
Page summary:
Preliminary and updated outbreak assessments for lumpy skin disease in Europe.
Change made:
Updated Outbreak Assessment – Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Europe Dated 3 March 2026
Time updated:
1:23pm, 9 March 2026
Accessibility statement for export health certificates online
Page summary:
This statement explains how accessible the export health certificates online service is.
Change made:
Updated or removed sections of the page to reflect that EHC Online is not used in Northern Ireland. Also, made changes to reflect that it now meets accessibility standards.
Time updated:
2:48pm, 9 March 2026
Call for comments on a revised draft risk profile of a substance proposed as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) 2026
Page summary:
Call for comments on a draft risk profile for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mixed polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, excluding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
5:03pm, 9 March 2026
Call for comments on a revised indicative list for long-chain PFCAs, PFOA and PFHxS, their salts and related compounds 2026
Page summary:
Call for comments on a revised draft indicative list for long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, including their salts and related compounds.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
5:07pm, 9 March 2026
Clarifying information for imports of animal products – IIN GEN/4
Page summary:
Clarifications on the certification of animal products for imports of medium risk animal products, for use by vets, importers and border officials.
Change made:
Clarification added to GBHC421 egg products about how a schedule can be added to the export health certificate when certifying that egg products containing plain or pure egg yolk are treated according to World Organisation for Animal Health standards.
Time updated:
1:21pm, 10 March 2026
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Page summary:
Information relating to persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Change made:
Added links to POPs research published on Defra Science Search, in the ‘Reports, research and evidence’ section. Also added 2 new calls for comments under ‘Live consultations and requests for information’: Call for comments on a revised indicative list for long-chain PFCAs, PFOA and PFHxS, their salts and related compounds 2026, and Call for comments on a revised draft risk profile of a substance proposed as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) 2026.
Time updated:
2:26pm, 11 March 2026
Businesses approved to export to the EU
Page summary:
Check if your business in Great Britain or one of the Crown Dependencies is approved to export to the EU and find out what your TRACES number is.
Change made:
Updated the lists of businesses approved to export to the EU.
Time updated:
4:27pm, 11 March 2026
England’s material footprint
Page summary:
Statistics on the material footprint, or raw material consumption, associated with final demand in England.
Change made:
Correction to the source region data presented in Figure 3
Time updated:
9:30am, 12 March 2026
Packaging data: how to create your file for extended producer responsibility
Page summary:
How to structure your packaging data submission. It includes information about the different types of data you need to submit and the codes you need to use.
Change made:
In ‘table 4: packaging class codes’, added that code O1 is only for use with the packaging type CW (self-managed consumer waste).
Time updated:
9:52am, 12 March 2026
Contact Defra
Page summary:
Information to help answer your query.
Change made:
Chemicals and pesticides telephone number – 0330 159 1985 removed as no longer operational.
Time updated:
2:45pm, 12 March 2026
Public register of reprocessors and exporters of UK packaging waste
Page summary:
List of all operators registered and accredited under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Updated the public register.
Time updated:
2:56pm, 12 March 2026
Newcastle disease: how to spot and report it
Page summary:
How to spot Newcastle disease, what to do if you suspect it and measures to prevent its spread.
Change made:
Updated to reflect that there’s now a medium risk of Newcastle disease being introduced into the UK. During 2025 and 2026, there were cases reported in Spain, Poland and most recently Germany.
Time updated:
2:59pm, 12 March 2026
Strategic Policy Statement for the Environment Agency
Page summary:
The government’s expectations for how the Environment Agency supports environmental protection, growth, water reform and national resilience.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:30pm, 12 March 2026
Apply for a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence
Page summary:
Use this service to apply for a new licence or add activity codes to an existing Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
11:32am, 13 March 2026
Get a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) activity code
Page summary:
Find the activity codes needed to apply for a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
11:32am, 13 March 2026
Certificate of Competence or licence to slaughter or kill animals
Page summary:
The licence or certificate you need to slaughter or kill animals, the operations covered and how to apply.
Change made:
Added a link to the new online form to apply for a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence.
Time updated:
11:33am, 13 March 2026
