David Hill appointed as Interim Defra Permanent Secretary
Page summary:
David Hill will lead the department as the recruitment process for a Permanent Secretary continues.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
10:35am, 30 June 2025
Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging: 2025 base fees
Page summary:
Base fees for year 1 (2025 to 2026) of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging.
Change made:
Added information under Table 1 to explain what the reference to ‘other’ means in the table.
Time updated:
11:38am, 30 June 2025
Our governance
Page summary:
Decision-making, and managerial bodies for Defra.
Change made:
Added David Hill as Interim Permanent Secretary.
Time updated:
3:44pm, 30 June 2025
SFI expanded offer for 2024: agreement holder’s information
Page summary:
Check the requirements you must follow under your Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement for the SFI expanded offer for 2024.
Change made:
Added the archived link for agreements that started on or after 1 September 2024 which were applied for by 11 March 2025.
Time updated:
5:30pm, 30 June 2025
Bluetongue: extended restricted zone and infected area (BTD 2024/92, BTD 2024/112 and BTD 2024/138) updated
Page summary:
Bluetongue virus serotype 3 was confirmed on 26 August 2024.
Change made:
In accordance with the bluetongue disease control framework, the restricted zone will be further extended on 1 July 2025 to include all of England.
Time updated:
5:52pm, 30 June 2025
SFI scheme information: re-opened offer for 2024
Page summary:
Get paid to manage land sustainably to benefit the environment and support food production: find out if your land is eligible, select and apply for SFI actions.
Change made:
Correction: The Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer for 2024 (SFI 2024) will re-open for applications from certain eligible applicants from 12 noon on 7 July 2025. We have written to these eligible applicants. For all other farmers, SFI will remain closed for applications.We have published updated SFI 2024 scheme information and agreement terms and conditions for the re-opened offer.
Time updated:
6:11pm, 30 June 2025
Sustainable Farming Incentive: guidance for applicants and agreement holders
Page summary:
What farmers need to know to get paid under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), how to apply for funding and how to manage your agreement.
Change made:
Correction: The Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer for 2024 (SFI 2024) will re-open for applications from certain eligible applicants from 12 noon on 7 July 2025. We have written to these eligible applicants. For all other farmers, SFI will remain closed for applications.We have published updated SFI 2024 scheme information and agreement terms and conditions for the re-opened offer.
Time updated:
6:12pm, 30 June 2025
Confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered
Page summary:
Owners must confirm their XL Bully dog has been neutered for their dog’s Certificate of Exemption to be valid.
Change made:
The deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering for XL Bully dogs has passed.We’ve updated the guidance to reflect this and removed the VCN01 form.
Time updated:
12:01am, 1 July 2025
Ban on XL Bully dogs
Page summary:
The rules you must follow if you own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales.
Change made:
The deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering have now passed.We’ve updated the guidance to reflect this. All existing rules around owning an XL Bully dog remain the same.
Time updated:
12:01am, 1 July 2025
Bluetongue: licences to move animals from the restricted zone to Scotland or Wales (EXD603, EXD608)
Page summary:
Use these general licences to move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland or Wales.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Bluetongue: moving, freezing and storing germinal product
Page summary:
The rules to follow when you are moving, freezing or storing germinal product in the bluetongue restricted zone.
Change made:
We have updated the rules for collecting, freezing and moving germinal product, now that the restricted zone covers the whole of England.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Get bluetongue testing
Page summary:
Find out when to test vaccinated animals and how to get private testing.
Change made:
You no longer need a pre-movement test to move animals within England, now that the whole of England is in a restricted zone. We have updated the guidance to reflect this change.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Bluetongue: moving animals within the restricted zone
Page summary:
The rules to follow when moving animals within a restricted zone, including to markets, shows and slaughterhouses.
Change made:
We have updated the rules for moving animals within a restricted zone (including to markets, shows and slaughterhouses) now that the restricted zone covers the whole of England.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Bluetongue: how to spot and report it
Page summary:
The signs of bluetongue virus, how you must report it and what happens when you do.
Change made:
We have updated the information on what happens when you report suspected bluetongue, now that the restricted zone covers the whole of England.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Bluetongue: news, information and guidance for livestock keepers
Page summary:
How to spot, report and prevent the spread of bluetongue, and information on current cases and movement restrictions.
Change made:
The bluetongue restricted zone has been extended to cover the whole of England. We have added links to the updated guidance.
Time updated:
8:45am, 1 July 2025
Hedgerow survey handbook
Page summary:
This Handbook sets out a standard way of recording hedgerows.
Change made:
We have published a correction slip. On page 86 of the Hedgerow Survey Handbook, under the ‘Data entry’ heading, a standard Microsoft Accessdatabase is cited as being available at www.naturalengland.org.uk. This database is no longer available and cannot be accessed.
Time updated:
10:22am, 1 July 2025
Bovine TB: compensation value tables
Page summary:
Compensation value tables for cattle culled to control spread of bovine TB, brucellosis or enzootic bovine leukosis.
Change made:
Added the cattle compensation table bulletin for July 2025. Updated the dataset with the July 2025 data.
Time updated:
12:44pm, 1 July 2025
UK REACH authorisation for Chemetall Limited, 12 June 2025
Page summary:
Decision on an application for authorisation (review report) under UK REACH.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
2:22pm, 1 July 2025
UK REACH authorisation for Tyco Electronics UK Ltd, 10 June 2025
Page summary:
Decision on an application for authorisation (review report) under UK REACH.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
2:23pm, 1 July 2025
UK REACH refusal of authorisation for the Surface Engineering Association (on behalf of Cannock Chemicals Limited), 28 May 2025
Page summary:
Decision on application for authorisation under UK REACH.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
2:24pm, 1 July 2025
Authorisation decisions: UK REACH
Page summary:
Authorisation decisions on the time-limited use of hazardous substances of very high concern under UK REACH.
Change made:
Added 3 new authorisation decisions.
Time updated:
2:26pm, 1 July 2025
Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
Page summary:
Current issues relating to imports and exports of animals and animal products.
Change made:
The section for lumpy skin disease in Italy has been updated to reflect an additional outbreak of lumpy skin disease in France.
Time updated:
5:24pm, 1 July 2025
Animals, animal products and HRFNAO imports: authorised border control posts in the UK
Page summary:
Find an approved UK border control post (BCP) to check the animals, animal products or high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO) in your consignment.
Change made:
We have updated the categories of animals and goods and specifications for Teesport Border Control Post.
Time updated:
10:31am, 2 July 2025
Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses to benefit from largest flood defence investment programme in history
Page summary:
Almost £8 billion to be invested in flood defences over the next decade
Change made:
Additional information added.
Time updated:
2:28pm, 2 July 2025
Call for comments on indicative lists for long-chain PFCAs, PFOA and PFHxS, their salts and related compounds
Page summary:
Closed call for comments on a draft indicative list for long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds.
Change made:
This call for comments is now closed. Two comments were received.
Time updated:
3:34pm, 2 July 2025
Peste des petits ruminants in Eastern Europe
Page summary:
Preliminary and updated outbreak assessments for peste des petits ruminants in Eastern Europe.
Change made:
Added an outbreak assessment: ‘10 June 2025: Peste des Petits Ruminants in Eastern Europe.’
Time updated:
9:31am, 3 July 2025
Blood and blood products – Import Information Notes
Page summary:
Guidance for vets, importers and border control officials when importing blood and blood products to Great Britain.
Change made:
Updated Import Information Note ABP/4C (for the import of untreated and treated blood products excluding those of equidae for uses outside the feed chain).
Time updated:
11:15am, 3 July 2025
West Nile fever poster
Page summary:
Poster for vets about how to spot and report West Nile fever.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
2:58pm, 3 July 2025
Fats (not for human consumption) – Import Information Notes
Page summary:
Guidance for vets, importers and border control officials when importing fats that are not for human consumption to Great Britain.
Change made:
Updated Import Information Notes ABP/10A (Import of rendered fats excluding fish oil, not intended for human consumption, to be used as feed material) and ABP/10B (Import of rendered fats, not intended for human consumption, for purposes outside the feed chain).
Time updated:
4:30pm, 3 July 2025
UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Committee documents
Page summary:
Minutes and meeting summaries from UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) committees and working groups.
Change made:
‘UK-New Zealand FTA joint public session: minutes, 30 April 2025’ added to collection page.
Time updated:
9:00am, 4 July 2025
Animal disease scanning surveillance at APHA
Page summary:
APHA detects and investigates new and re-emerging diseases in animals in England and Wales.
Change made:
Guidance has been updated to include information about Equine Surveillance.
Time updated:
9:00am, 4 July 2025
APHA animal surveillance reports, publications and dashboards
Page summary:
Access APHA reports, videos, publications and data on livestock, wildlife and small animals in England and Wales.
Change made:
Guidance has been updated to include information on Equine reports.
Time updated:
9:02am, 4 July 2025
Genetically Modified Organisms: University of Southampton (25/R50/01)
Page summary:
Inviting representations on an application from the University of Southampton to release a genetically modified organism, reference 25/R50/01.
Change made:
First published.
Time updated:
3:19pm, 4 July 2025
Genetically modified organisms: applications, decisions and notifications
Page summary:
Information about releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for research purposes, including lists of applications, consents and notifications.
Change made:
Added a new application from the University of Southampton to release a genetically modified organism, Neisseria lactamica, for clinical research and development purposes (reference 25/R50/01).
Time updated:
4:05pm, 4 July 2025
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 5 ODS attachments of lists of businesses approved to export to the EU.
Time updated:
4:52pm, 4 July 2025
