Consultation Hub

The site lists consultations that are run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. On this site you can find, share or take part in consultations. Public participation is very important to the development of our policies so please have your say.

Open Consultations

  • Open access restriction at The Downs (case numbers 2006100112 & 2006110003)

    Natural England is seeking views on proposals that will restrict public access to open access land at this site. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gives a public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common... More

    Closes today

  • Yr arferion mewn contractau yn sector moch y Deyrnas Unedig

    Mae'r sector moch wedi gweld heriau arwyddocaol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Cafodd gormodedd o foch, a gododd o ganlyniad i ostyngiad cyflym yn y galw am allforion yn Tsieina, a diffyg cigyddion medrus ar safleoedd prosesu, ei ddwysáu gan Covid-19 ac arweiniodd at ôl-groniad... More

    Closes today

  • Contractual Practice in the UK Pig Sector

    The pig sector has seen significant challenges in recent years. An oversupply of pigs arising as a result of rapidly declining export demand by China, and the lack of skilled butchers in processing plants was compounded by the outbreak of Covid-19 and led to a significant backlog of pigs on... More

    Closes today

  • Changes to the measurement (metric) used to report on the condition of SSSIs in England

    Natural England is seeking views on the proposed change to the measurement used in the reporting of SSSI condition in England. The changes will be a move from a unit or area based assessment to one which measures the condition of a notified feature across the whole of the SSSI. ... More

    Closes 31 October 2022

  • Sign-up for updates on Environmental Targets

    An important aspect of the Environment Bill is the power to set long-term, legally-binding environmental targets. Setting targets will provide a strong mechanism to deliver long-term environmental outcomes. This will build upon progress towards achieving the long-term vision of the 25 Year... More

    Closes 31 October 2022

  • Call for evidence on methane suppressing feed products

    Methane suppressing feed products are defined here as natural or synthetic compounds added to or included in animals’ diets which lead to less methane being produced whilst the animal is digesting the feed. They include a range of products including methanogenesis inhibitors, seaweeds,... More

    Closes 15 November 2022

  • Managing flyseine vessel pressure on demersal Non-Quota Species

    The Fisheries White Paper, Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations, 2018 sets out the UK’s commitment to reshape fisheries management following our departure from the EU. Continuing to champion sustainable fishing and adopting management measures to rebuild and maintain stocks in the... More

    Closes 16 November 2022

  • Amending the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and the Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998

    The UK Government and devolved administrations are seeking views on proposals to update and amend The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and The Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 which cover specific rules on the labelling and composition of bread and flour. The regulations... More

    Closes 23 November 2022

  • Diwygio Rheoliadau Bara a Blawd 1998 a Rheoliadau Bara a Blawd (Gogledd Iwerddon) 1998

    Mae llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig (DU) a’r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig yn ceisio safbwyntiau ar gynigion i ddiweddaru a diwygio Rheoliadau Bara a Blawd 1998 a Rheoliadau Bara a Blawd (Gogledd Iwerddon) 1998 sy’n ymdrin â rheolau penodol ar labelu a chyfansoddiad bara a blawd. Yn bennaf,... More

    Closes 23 November 2022

See All Open Consultations

Closed Consultations

  • Consultation on the WC Suite Performance Specifications in England and Wales

    In England and Wales the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (‘the regulations’) regulate how water systems are designed, installed and operated. Regulator Specifications that provide detailed performance, verification and in some cases installation requirements, can also be... More

    Closed 3 October 2022

  • Consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs)

    The purpose of this consultation is to seek your views on the proposals to designate a number of candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters. HPMAs are areas of the sea that allow the protection and full recovery of marine ecosystems. HPMAs are defined in the Benyon... More

    Closed 28 September 2022

  • Technical consultation on the biodiversity metric

    Questions in this consultation There are 8 questions in this consultation. There are 4 additional questions for confidentiality and respondent information which are included at the beginning of the online survey only. The consultation questions are therefore numbered as follows: ... More

    Closed 27 September 2022

  • Consultation on Managing Quota in 2023 and Beyond

    The UK is now an independent coastal state with rights and duties under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to control and manage the resources in our waters. We have the left the EU and the common fisheries policy and, over the coming years, we will reform how we manage our... More

    Closed 19 September 2022

  • Consultation on the Principles of Marine Net Gain

    The Government’s response to the 2018 terrestrial Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) consultation confirmed the intention to develop and consult on an appropriate regime for the marine environment which builds on commitments in Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan. Broadly speaking,... More

    Closed 13 September 2022

See All Closed Consultations

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

The consultation focused on opinions on the sale of peat for horticultural use and whether this should continue or be restricted. We also asked whether there should be any exemptions and what these might be.

You said

The response was clear with over 95% of responses calling for a ban on the sale of peat. There was some valid concern in the responses for the use of peat in industry.

We did

The government in England is committed to banning the sale of peat and peat containing products by 2024.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Dearne Valley Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 May 2021.

Consultations closed on 13 September 2021.

You said

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 19 January 2022, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest (area figure amendment) and boundary map. Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Dearne Valley Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 13 May 2021.

Consultations closed on 13 September 2021.

We did

Natural England confirmed Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on 4 February 2022.

In accordance with Natural England’s policy on freedom of information, details of the Board’s decision will be available on Natural England’s website in due course: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/our-governance.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk.

We asked

Natural England consulted with owners, occupiers and interested parties on the notification of Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on 11 March 2021.

Consultations closed on 12 July 2021.

You said

Following consideration of representations and objections at its meeting on 10 November 2021, the Board of Natural England approved the confirmation of the notification of the Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI with modifications to the description of the special interest (area figure amendment), boundary map and Views about Management (VAM).

We did

Natural England confirmed Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI under section 28C of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on 19 November 2021.

In accordance with Natural England’s policy on freedom of information, details of the Board’s decision will be available on Natural England’s website in due course: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/our-governance.

If you have any questions or require further information, please email ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk.