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

  • Consultation on fairer food labelling

    Evidence shows that consumers want to buy high-quality food, however, it can be difficult for them to clearly identify where food comes from and how it is produced. We want to make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing food and allow them to choose products that align...

    Closes 7 May 2024

  • Sun tanning lamps: exemption for lead as the activator

    The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (the RoHS regulations) restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the...

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Industrial monitoring and control instruments: exemption for cadmium anodes in Hersch cells

    The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (the RoHS regulations) restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the...

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Glass frit binder for assembly of gas lasers: exemption for lead

    The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (the RoHS regulations) restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the...

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Atomic absorption spectroscopy lamps: exemption for lead and cadmium

    The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (the RoHS regulations) restricts the use of 10 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the...

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Open Access Restriction at The Grun – East Kielder - NY672991 (case number 2024030131)

    The Forestry Commission 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 land....

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Wine Reforms Consultation

    Foreword Leaving the European Union has given us the opportunity to review how we make and shape the regulatory framework for food and drink. The government has delivered the first two phases of the assimilated EU law (AEUL) wine reforms. The first Statutory Instrument (SI),...

    Closes 10 May 2024

  • Bovine TB: Consultation on proposals to evolve badger control policy and introduce additional cattle measures

    This consultation is part of the government’s bTB Strategy. Achieving OTF status will provide tangible benefits for the cattle industry, rural communities and government. These include significant savings in combating the disease both to government and to industry, increasing the ability to trade ...

    Closes 13 May 2024

Forthcoming Consultations

  • Open Access Restriction at Symonds Yat - SO561156 - (case number 2023100023)

    The Forestry Commission 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 land....

    Opens 26 April 2024

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

To start the process of replacing the East Marine Plans, as agreed by the Secretary of State in April 2023, and approval to consult on the East Marine Plan Draft Statemnet of Public Particiaption. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) held a formal consultation between 15 January 2024 and 12 February 2024.

Four engagement events were held during the consultation period, which were attended by a wide range of stakeholders from various sectors.

You said

The consensus from the consultation was that the Statement of Public Particiaption generally meets the requirements of stakeholders. No changes were required to the Draft East Marine Plan Statement of Public Participation directly however, minor changes have been made to the corresponding gov.uk webpages to reflect the representations made by stakeholders. 

We did

Following the consultation on the East Marine Plan Draft Statement of Public Participation, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has agreed to publish the East Marine Plan Statement of Public Participation.  

You can review the East marine Plan Statement of Public Participation and learn more about the process of replacing the East Marine Plan on the marine planning webpages. 

We asked

Defra consulted on establishing permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna (BFT) in UK waters.

You said

Of the 167 responses, the vast majority of respondents (139, 83%), across all interested groups, broadly supported the proposed design for the new UK permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of BFT.

Of those respondents not in favour, the vast majority supported the concept of recreational BFT fisheries but had specific concerns about the proposed design.

We did

On the basis of the strong support to the consultation for new UK permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of BFT, Defra will bring forward the necessary legislation.

Each UK fisheries administration (FA) will determine if, and when, to introduce a BFT catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in its waters. We intend to open a BFT CRRF in English waters in 2024.

Our full Government response is available on GOV.UK.

We asked

Defra consulted on the scope of animal health and welfare offences that could be covered by penalty notices and elements on how the penalty regime might work in practice

You said

More than 85% of respondents to the consultation supported the view that penalty notices could be a proportionate tool to ensure compliance with animal health and welfare regulations and supported the use of penalty notices to enforce regulations across different areas of animal health and welfare legislation.

We did

As a result, we will introduce legislation to make penalty notices available as an enforcement option for named enforcers to use where appropriate for specified offences across animal health and welfare legislation.