Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 April 2026.

Strengthened UK-Japan trade arrangement slashes red tape for British organic exporters, cutting costs and bureaucracy.

British organic food producers will see red tape slashed and the doors opened to one of Asia’s fastest-growing organic markets, Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.

Coming into effect today (Wednesday 1 April), the UK and Japan have formally recognised the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards. This will create significant market access for British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan, from organic bacon and sausages to cheese and butter.

This means British businesses will need only a single UK organic certification to sell their organic livestock products in both countries, cutting costs and bureaucracy and breaking down a major trade barrier.   

The government has identified removal of this trade barrier as one of its market access priorities, with the potential to boost British export sales and generate millions in additional trade each year according to industry estimates.

Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

From Welsh organic cheese to world-class organic British beef, our farmers and producers set the gold standard for quality.  

This arrangement tears down barriers and gives them access to Japanese consumers who are increasingly seeking out the very best organic products the world has to offer.

Among those eyeing the opportunity is a Welsh organic dairy producer that has been growing its exports of organic cheese across Asian markets and is now looking to establish a foothold in Japan.

Stuart McNally, Business Development and Sales Manager for Calon Wen, said:

This is a very welcome breakthrough for Calon Wen, a farmer-owned organic dairy co-operative, and for the wider UK organic sector.

This equivalency with Japan allows us to pursue opportunities previously out of reach. This includes organic business tenders worth substantial trade annually. It’s a positive step that supports our family farms and strengthens the reputation of Welsh organic dairy in premium export markets such as Japan.”  

Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia, valued at an estimated £1.4 billion in 2023, and expanding rapidly, driven by Japanese government initiatives to promote organic consumption domestically.  

The UK-Japan organics market already enjoys a thriving trade partnership, where British organic produce including tea, fruit and vegetable juices, cereals, sauces, and syrups are already winning over Japanese consumers, who in return export popular staples like organic soy sauce, noodles, and green tea enjoyed by British consumers.
   

The UK’s organic sector continues its impressive growth trajectory, expanding 4.2% in 2025 to reach £3.9bn retail value – a trend sustained since 2012. The EU, Switzerland, US, and Republic of Korea stand among the other key export destinations for British organic products.

This arrangement builds on many recent wins for the livestock sector such as the recent beef tariff rate quota, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised, and genetics market access in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Notes to editors

• Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia after China, with an estimated value of approximately £1.4 billion in 2023.
• The new arrangement expands the UK’s existing organic equivalency arrangement for mutual recognition of organic standards between the UK and Japan to cover organic livestock products for the first time and will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
• This builds on an earlier agreement that was reached between the UK and Japan in September 2025, boosting new trade in organic alcoholic drinks.  
• The scope of the products covered by the arrangement includes all types of UK organic certified meat and dairy products, including beef, lamb, pork and chicken, processed meat products such as bacon, sausages, hams and cured meats, dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, milk powders and processed eggs, and other processed food products containing animal ingredients, for example pet food.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 April 2026.

A total £90 million funding for species recovery across England.

Hundreds of England’s most threatened native wildlife are to be protected from extinction, thanks to the largest ever government funding for threatened species announced today.

The government will invest £60 million over the next three years – more than double the previous round of funding – into the Species Recovery Programme, marking the largest ever government investment in directly supporting threatened species. A further £30 million will be dedicated to fund species recovery on the national forest estate. 

It comes as Defra unveils a new campaign, “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife”, which will encompass the government’s existing and future work to protect and recover native species through projects including the flagship Species Recovery Programme.

The programme, run by Natural England, funds conservation projects including habitat restoration, captive breeding and species reintroductions, helping to tackle habitat loss, safeguard our fragile ecosystems such as ancient woodland and chalk streams, and restore nature-rich landscapes.

Successful projects set to receive funding for 2026-2029 will be confirmed by Natural England in May but early indications suggest the funding will support action across a wide range of species from birds to beetles, moths to mammals and spiders, snails and seahorses. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 

This Government is bringing threatened wildlife back from the brink with the largest ever investment in species recovery.

This long-term commitment is a decisive step towards reversing the decline of nature and protecting it for generations to come.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said: 

If there is one positive thing about species decline, it is the fact that it is usually reversible. For decades Natural England’s species recovery work has revealed how even the rarest of the rare can be brought back from the brink. The red kite, lady’s slipper orchid, pool frog, beaver and large blue butterfly are among the examples that demonstrate the many opportunities at hand.

Through the proven winning mix of good science and effective partnerships we know that many species can be restored to favourable status. This new government funding is most welcome, and will enable us to support even more of the many initiatives underway across England to halt and reverse the decline of our wonderful wildlife.

Over the past three decades the programme has helped protect over 1,000 species and prevented the national extinction of at least 35 species. More than 600 species benefited from conservation efforts by the programme between 2022-2024, including water vole, hazel dormouse and oystercatcher. Among the key successes were the first red-billed chough to hatch in the wild in Kent for over 200 years, the successful reintroduction of black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors, and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads after an 85-year absence.     

England is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Since 1970, wildlife populations have fallen by a third with one in six species at risk of extinction. The funding uplift will help support the government’s mission to reverse this decline and meet our legal targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan, which commit to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 and reducing species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels. 

The government has already announced the largest nature friendly farming budget in history, with £11.8 billion to be spent across this Parliament, the creation of three new National Forests, and approved the first wild beaver releases since they were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago. 

Additional information:

• The majority of applications for Species Recovery Programme funding are still undergoing assurance. These projects will be considered at the Programme Board in May, after which funding decisions and announcements for that group will be made later in the month.
• Examples of successful projects delivered with funding from the Species Recovery Programme: 

Hawkshead bee in Hastings       

The species highlight of the project was the discovery of Andrena fulvago (Hawksbeard Bee) by ecologist Andy Phillips. This rare species had not been recorded in Hastings for over 100 years. The wildflower areas created by Groundwork South will help support this rare bee species, along with many others.       

Chough in Kent      

The successful reintroduction of Chough in Kent for the first time in over 200 years following an extensive captive breeding programme and supervised release and monitoring. The success of this project, carried out by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park was demonstrated by first wild hatched chick in 2024, birds nested again in 2025.      

Black grouse on the North York Moors      

The successful translocation and reintroduction of breeding black grouse on the North Yorks Moors saw new nests hatched and 15 birds fitted with radio transmitters to monitor movements and health. This project will also release further individuals this year as part of the grant extension.       

Adders in Berkshire      

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust installed two adder tunnels beneath the Old Thornford road in Berkshire which bisected Greenham and Crookham commons. The tunnel was completed in March 2024 and additional habitat enhancements were made to help direct adders towards the tunnel entrances instead of the road. In May 2025 trail cameras installed at the tunnel entrance caught evidence of an adder using one of the tunnels.      

Horseshoe bats in Sussex      

Vincent Wildlife Trust has worked on three disused buildings to make them ideal for bat breeding. Their project Horseshoes Heading East focussed on connecting up suitable breeding and hibernation places for greater horseshoe bat across Sussex. Greater horseshoe bats at one of the sites have successfully bred, with mums and pups in the incubator and a new attic space.       

Waders in Essex      

The RSPB and Essex Wildlife Trust worked together across wet grassland, grazing marsh, reedbeds and saline lagoons in the Blackwater and Colne Estuary to install predator fences and water control features to make the site even better for breeding waders. The works have already proved successful with a lapwing nest spotted this spring and 6 other lapwing were seen displaying, as well as a pair of redshank.      

Lady’s slipper orchid in Yorkshire      

Natural England has worked with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Plantlife for thirty years collecting thousands of seeds, conducting germination trials and growing on seedlings to try and bring back our most impressive and rarest orchid, the lady’s slipper. Now, with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust also part of the partnership, the first known example of this rare and beautiful plant naturally propagating in the wild has been recorded.      

Avocet in Worcester      

Upgraded islands within the lakes at the reserve at Upton Warren, which had eroded over time, have received positive responses from the visiting birds, with 57 Avocet recorded on the 28th March ’25. This is a fantastic outcome given the short timeframe over which this project has been delivered by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.      

Water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire      

Four Species Recovery Programme projects have created habitats for water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire including creating new bankside habitat, wetlands and ponds, and planting hedges to provide cover and food plants.  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, aided by contractors and volunteers, installed twenty water vole ‘motels’ along the banks of the canal in Coventry to provide safe resting and feeding places. In addition, more than 420 water voles were captive reared and released to help increase population numbers and distribution.       

Atlantic salmon and pearl mussels in Cumbria      

West Cumbria Rivers Trust, working with the Freshwater Biological Association delivered river habitat improvements including removing barriers to the passage of Atlantic salmon. This also benefitted pearl mussels, as their larvae spend around 9 months of their lifecycle on the gills of either salmon or trout, before dropping off into gravels to continue their growth. 2475 juvenile freshwater pearl mussels were released under licence into streams in Cumbria to bolster the populations.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 April 2026.

Three independent board members have been appointed to the Consumer Council for Water. 

Alison Austin and Hilary Florek have begun three-year terms today (1 April 2026). Peter Judge’s three-year term will begin on 1 November 2026. These appointments have all been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  

The Consumer Council for Water is the independent, statutory body that represents all water and sewerage consumers across England and Wales. It provides advice and information on water matters and investigates complaints. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Biographies

Alison Austin

Alison Austin has extensive experience as a public sector Non-Executive Director and runs an independent sustainability consultancy supporting businesses with environmental, social and governance strategy. She spent 25 years at Sainsbury’s in roles spanning marketing, food technical, and sustainability, developing a strong understanding of consumer needs in the food sector. Since leaving Sainsbury’s 16 years ago, she has remained active in areas linking consumer interests and sustainability across both corporate and public sector organisations. Her previous roles include Non-Executive Director of the Consumer Council for Water and Independent Board Member for Seafish, where she represented Northern Ireland for six years. She has also served as a Trustee of WRAP, focusing on food waste, packaging reduction and the circular economy, and has worked with SGS UK Ltd and the Soil Association on governance of auditors for certification and accreditation standards. Alison was appointed to the Food Standards Agency’s Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes in June 2021, a role in which she represented consumers’ interests. She resigned in November 2025 to join the Agency’s Board as a Non-Executive Director. 

Hilary Florek

Hilary Florek is a strategic communications and marketing specialist with extensive experience in both the public, private and third sector. She was Chair of the Marine Management Organisation from February 2018 until December 2024. She is currently Chair of North East Access to Finance and a member of the Board of Advance Northumberland. She sits as a Member of Court at Newcastle University and is the Chair of Court Steering Committee. She is a member of the Board of the Durham County Cricket Foundation and a Trustee of Lawnmowers, a Theatre Group for young people with learning difficulties. Prior to this, she was Chairman of the Port of Tyne for three years having served previously as Deputy Chairman. She also served on the Board of the Glasshouse International Centre for Music. She began her career with the Vaux Group PLC and became PR and Communications Director, a position she held until 2000 when she established her own PR and Marketing consultancy. 

Peter Judge

Peter Judge’s early career was as a corporate lawyer in private practice before moving in-house to be the Legal and Procurement Director and Group Company Secretary of the Regional Development Agency, One North East (2003-2012), where he developed a reputation for strong leadership, innovation and for improving efficiency, governance and stewardship of public resources. Peter chairs the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute and is Senior Independent Governor of Northumbria University, together with a number of other non-executive roles. Peter was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Marine Management Organisation in 2019. As Attorney General of the British Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (2014-2017), Peter was responsible for both Governments’ legal functions including prosecution, regulation, fisheries enforcement and new legislation. He successfully sponsored an international agreement on closer cooperation between British Overseas Territories. Peter was awarded an MBE for services to Economic Development and the North East region in 2012 and named UK In-House Lawyer of the Year by The Lawyer Magazine in 2010.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 March 2026.

Trail hunting is set to be banned in England and Wales – delivering a key manifesto commitment. A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward.

Trail hunting is where hounds follow a pre-laid animal-based scent across the countryside, mimicking traditional hunting. It became popular in the UK after the Hunting Act 2004 became law, as an alternative to traditional fox hunting.

This can result in wild animals, including foxes and hares, being injured or killed by dogs, as well as household pets in some cases. The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild animals are not placed in danger as a result of dogs picking up their scent, as opposed to the intended animal-based scent trail.

Concerns also persist around whether trail hunting is being used by some as a “smokescreen” to facilitate illegal hunting with dogs.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has previously said he believes trail hunting is providing a smokescreen and it “gives people the opportunity to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago”

We want alternative practices such as drag hunting and clean‑boot hunting, which use non‑animal scents, to continue to thrive. We recognise that hunts can support jobs and local businesses, and bring people together across the countryside. We are committed to ensuring that responsible rural pursuits, where there is no risk to our precious wildlife, can continue.

Baroness Sue Hayman, Animal Welfare Minister, said:  

We pledged to ban trail hunting in our manifesto and that is exactly what we intend to do.

The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured – that is clearly unacceptable.

We understand that this is a complex issue and so we are seeking views from everyone with an interest to help shape how we bring this forward.

This announcement follows the publication of the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy which outlined the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK. 

 A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward. It will run until 18 June.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2026.

His Majesty King Charles III launched the England Coast Path at an event at Seven Sisters today.

• Renamed as the King Charles III England Coast Path in his honour in 2023 the 2,700 mile-long trail is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world giving unprecedented access to coastline, 
• With 1,000 miles of new access and improved infrastructure throughout the path will deliver a boost to the visitor economy and coastal communities. 

The King Charles III England Coast Path was officially launched today (Thursday 19th March) by His Majesty the King at an event held at Seven Sisters in Sussex.     

His Majesty walked a 2-kilometre stretch of the coast path, taking in the spectacular views of the Seven Sisters and enjoying the sight of the majestic chalky cliffs and the famous coastguard cottages that cling to the clifftop, immortalised in popular imagination through books and Hollywood movies alike.    

The Seven Sisters route forms part of the unique King Charles III England Coast Path, which is now the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, to be enjoyed both by visitors and local communities.      

Work on the King Charles III England Coast Path began in 2010 with the first section opened at Weymouth so that people could watch the 2012 Olympic sailing events from the nearby cliffs and beaches.     

Since then, works have taken place across the country from Cumbria and Cornwall to Northumberland and Norfolk with new stretches giving people access to the big skies and beaches of East Anglia, the rolling dunes of Formby beach, the ancient geology of the Jurassic Coast and now the iconic white cliffs of Seven Sisters that are being celebrated today.     

Once completed, 1,000 miles of new path will be created and 1,700 miles improved, allowing people to walk the beautiful headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes that make up the English coast. New signage and infrastructure such as bridges and boardwalks are being installed, helping to improve the accessibility of many coastal areas. 

All new and existing paths are now of National Trail standard and will help to attract more income from tourism for coastal communities as people come to visit the path.  

His Majesty was accompanied on the walk by the Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper and the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds.    

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:     

“The King Charles III England Coast Path is a testament to how access, conservation, and community can come together to make people’s lives better and is a fitting tribute to His Majesty and his lifelong passion for nature.  

“With this national asset, people around the country alongside international visitors will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the English Coast and the feeling of wellbeing, both mental and physical, that it brings. This will reconnect people with the land, support nature recovery, and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.” 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:     

“We have one of the most stunning coastlines in the world and the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people a new way to explore it.

“This is the longest managed coast path in the world, creating amazing opportunities for people to visit spots of natural beauty in our coastal towns and villages.”

Visitors to England’s coastal paths already generate £350 million in spending within local coastal economies each year and support nearly 6,000 jobs. The path opens up new opportunities for growth along its route, with the potential to become part of the fabric of coastal economies by boosting tourism and revitalise coastal towns. 

One of the key features of the King Charles III England Coast Path is its ability to ‘rollback’ with coastal erosion. This means that the path can be easily moved inland to adapt to the changing shape of the coast and ensure access rights remain in place for the future.    

This launch is the culmination of more than sixteen years of work from Natural England and over 50 coastal local authorities, landowners and others across the country, including Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and access organisations such as the Ramblers Association, Disabled Ramblers and British Mountaineering Council.    

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been full submitted to government for approval, while work continues to open remaining stretches around the country. Around 2,100 miles of the path are currently open with full access rights in place. By summer, we expect around 90% of infrastructure works to have been completed.  

The event kicks off a year of celebration of our coast with a range of visitor experiences being made available across the year and comes on the same day as the declaration of the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, which was also opened by His Majesty the King today.   

Named in honour of His Majesty, a lifelong champion of the natural world, both the King Charles III England Coast Path and the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves stand as enduring commitments to protecting nature and public access.      

Two commemorative plaques were unveiled by His Majesty to be a lasting legacy of the day.    

The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023 to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.  

NOTES TO EDITORS     

• His Majesty’s visit to Seven Sisters today was covered by the royal rota.   
• The duty to create an England Coast Path was first placed on Natural England by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.    
• The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023, to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.    

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2026.

Some of the worst illegal waste sites across England to be cleared, restoring pride in our communities.

Waste criminals across England face their toughest ever crackdown, as the government and Environment Agency unveil a sweeping package of measures targeting illegal dumping.   

The new Waste Crime Action Plan sets out a zero-tolerance approach, with action to prevent waste crime at its source by closing loopholes and equipping regulators with the tools they need to stop waste criminals.   

Under the plans, the government will ramp up efforts to punish offenders committing waste crime. This could see them ordered to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets and parks as part of new “clean-up squads” and required to repay the cost of clearing the waste they illegally dumped.

Expanding enforcement activity is key, and the Environment Agency will also increase its on-the-ground activity against waste criminals – intervening earlier on larger sites. Backed by an additional £45 million from the government over the next three years, this will strengthen enforcement activity and ensure waste criminals face the consequences of their actions. This represents a significant uplift of the Environment Agency’s enforcement budget, which stood at £10 million in 2024/25.  

The government will directly fund the clean-up of some of the worst illegal waste sites in the country including in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire – where a combined 48,000 tonnes of waste has been illegally dumped. The Environment Agency has already conducted preliminary assessments of these sites, with further clean-up assessments to come.

The government is forcing fly-tippers to pay to clean up illegal waste sites, it will also introduce a Landfill Tax rebate for local authorities that step up to clear sites, easing financial pressures on authorities. 

For too many communities across England, criminals have left them living in the shadow – and the smell – of illegal waste sites – but this government will not put up with it.    

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds said: 

Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This Action Plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences.  

Waste criminals will be forced to join clean up squads and made to pay for the clearing of illegal waste sites. We will give enforcement officers new police-style powers to bring offenders to justice.” 

As part of a new 10 Point Plan, the Environment Agency has set out how it will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action. This includes making greater use of restriction notices – powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately, with no warning. Any operator who ignores a restriction notice faces up to 51 weeks in prison. 

Where evidence shows that carriers or operators are handling waste illegally, the Environment Agency will also act decisively – suspending or revoking their permits and deregistering authorisations that will shut them down. 

Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Philip Duffy said: 

Waste crime is not a new issue, but the threat is evolving and our response needs to move up a gear.  

We will act earlier, faster and smarter by shutting down illegal sites before they become established, using our powers decisively to strip rogue operators of their permits, and working with police, HMRC and councils to go after criminal assets. 

These measures will ensure we stay one step ahead of waste criminals and protect the communities, businesses and environment that they blight.  

But we can’t fight this battle on our own and will need the public’s eyes and ears to report illegal dumping through Crimestoppers or our incident hotline.” 

The measures announced today represent a fundamental step up in tackling waste crime, targeting the problem at its root to prevent illegal sites from ever taking hold. Measures include: 

• New enforcement powers: Defra and the Home Office will arm Environment Agency officers with new police-style powers to intervene earlier, bring more criminals to justice and hit organised gangs where it hurts by disrupting their finances.  
• Boosted enforcement budget: An additional £45 million for the Environment Agency to spend on waste crime enforcement over the next three financial years, on top of the £5.6 million increase for this financial year announced previously.  
• New Intelligence Unit to identify risks earlier: The Environment Agency will create a new Operational Waste Intelligence and Analysis Unit to hunt down waste criminals using every tool available – from aerial surveillance to financial data – and ensure enforcement is faster and smarter.  
• Penalty points on driving licences: Defra and the Department for Transport will give courts the power to award penalty points on driving licences for fly-tipping offences. Litter louts responsible for the most serious cases could face losing their licence altogether. This will make it harder for repeat offenders to continue dumping illegally. 
• Naming illegal waste operators: For the first time, illegal waste operators will be named and shamed by the Environment Agency. Information will be shared across the waste sector to put waste criminals on notice and ensure waste is not put in the wrong hands.  
• Supporting landowners: Defra will work with the insurance industry to create more comprehensive policies and remove any existing barriers, helping farmers, businesses and landowners to be covered for the cost of clearing illegally dumped waste from their land. 
• Clean up the worst illegal waste sites: the government is now committing to clearing up some of the most egregious sites and will start on-site feasibility assessments for the following sites as soon as possible:  

• Bolton House Road in Wigan where 18,000 tonnes of waste was dumped  

• A stretch of land in Hyndburn where 10,000 tonnes of waste was dumped 

• An industrial site in Sheffield where 20,000 tonnes of waste was dumped 

• A Landfill Tax rebate scheme for local authorities: The government is aware of concerns that Landfill Tax can be a blocker to clearance of high-risk illegal waste sites. We will therefore develop with local authorities a rebate scheme for landfill tax to tackle this issue. 

Waste crime costs the English economy £1 billion every year, with an estimated 20% of all waste illegally managed. The criminal networks behind it are becoming increasingly sophisticated, causing serious harm to communities and the environment, undercutting legitimate businesses and depriving the public purse of millions in lost tax revenue. 

The Action Plan builds on work already underway in the government’s war on waste crime. Since coming into power, this government’s work to tackle waste crime, includes bolstering the Joint Unit for Waste Crime to 20 specialist officers.

Successes include a serial waste crook being forced to pay over £1.4 million for widespread illegal dumping, as well as more arrests being made as part of an investigation into illegal tipping at a site in Kidlington.  

Two arrests were also made in February in relation to waste dumped in a field near Romford, with a lorry seized and mobile phones and a laptop recovered as evidence.  

Chair of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and Executive Vice President UK, SUEZ Group, John Scanlon, said: 

The scourge of waste crime blights communities, damages the natural environment and undermines investment in Britain’s circular economy. Factoring in all types of waste crime, including landfill tax fraud, we believe the cost to the UK economy now exceeds a billion pounds a year. 

ESA members therefore welcome Government’s commitment to increase funding for waste crime enforcement and to deliver earlier, faster and more effective interventions to deter, disrupt and stop illegal activities before they become environmental and financial disasters. Legitimate industry will play its part, in partnership with regulators, by sharing intelligence to help catch criminals, and by continuing to campaign for legislative change to ensure regulators and enforcement agencies have the power and resources they need to effectively deter criminals from waste activities.

Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, said:

CIWM welcomes the renewed focus that the Government’s Action Plan brings to tackling waste crime.  Aligned to the Environment Agency’s 10 Point Plan, this mix of new, innovative and strengthened measures is a substantial response to this concerning issue.

The scourge of waste crime causes misery and anxiety to communities affected, causing real damage to local environments and to local economies.  It also undermines the legitimate resources and waste sector, but we will not be defined by it. 

CIWM, its members, and the wider waste and recycling sector is committed to playing its part in driving towards higher professional standards across our vital services. By remaining vigilant and sharing intelligence we will work alongside sector regulators to continue to disrupt and prevent criminal behaviour in our sector.  We commend Defra for this response and look forward to the rapid deployment of the range of measures and increased resources.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 March 2026.

New plans aim to support British farmers by improving supply resilience to global market shocks and supporting innovation in the fertiliser sector.

British farmers could benefit from access to new and innovative fertilising products which have the potential to reduce air, land and water pollution under new government proposals launched today (Thursday 19 March).

The consultation and call for evidence set out plans to help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks.

Current fertiliser regulations are widely seen as outdated and could do more to support fertiliser supply resilience and protect the environment, as well as being more agile to enable new products to enter the market. Despite its complexity, the framework has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years and applies mainly to inorganic mineral fertilisers, limiting its overall scope.

Expanding access to a wider range of fertiliser products and introducing a more flexible legislative framework would help strengthen future fertiliser supply. 

The proposals form part of the government’s plan to work hand-in-hand with farmers and industry to put more homegrown food on people’s plates, grow the economy, and protect the countryside.

The government is actively monitoring developments in the Middle East and the impacts on the food and farming sector, including rising fertiliser prices. It has taken action to support greater price transparency, raising industry concerns with the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) and asking the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to report back on fertiliser and red diesel supply and use across agricultural sectors.

The CMA has confirmed it will work with government to identify and monitor sectors likely to be affected by price rises and disruption – including fertilisers – so we can respond swiftly to any evidence of harmful practices across the economy.

The government continues to work with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any immediate risks.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

Farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation, and they deserve a system that keep pace with modern agriculture, supports farm businesses, encourages innovation and cuts pollution.

These proposals would help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, reduce reliance on imports, and support more sustainable farming.

Jo Gilbertson, Agricultural Industries Confederation Sector Head for Fertilisers, said: 

This consultation represents an important opportunity to put in place a fertiliser regulatory framework that is fit for the future. 

Aligning with a European‑style fertilising products model, while tailoring it to UK conditions and co‑designing it with industry, should help deliver a system that protects standards, supports innovation, and works in practice for businesses and farmers alike.

The proposed reforms will also embed environmental standards and ensure labelling and marketing rules give end-users confidence that the products they buy are safe and effective.

The new framework is intended to support a more circular economy by increasing the use of recycled nutrients made by alternative technologies, cut pollution to land and water, and create opportunities for innovation and growth in the UK fertiliser sector.

Implementation of the new framework will need to be an iterative process and the call for evidence seeks views and evidence on newer and novel products and materials to inform future policy development, underlining the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the sector.  

The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on Wednesday 13 May with responses invited from farmers, manufacturers, environmental groups and the wider industry via GOV.UK.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 March 2026.

First shipment of UK beef under reciprocal quota arrives in the US, as government works in partnership with the food and farming industries to save millions in export fees and grow the UK economy.

UK food and farming take centre stage this week after the first shipment of British beef arrived in the US, alongside the launch of the UK’s first dedicated agri‑food trade mission to Washington DC.

The trade mission will build on a milestone of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal, where both countries agreed to implement a reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef. The quota is a major growth opportunity for British farmers, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised. 

Thanks to the deal, UK beef exporters were given dedicated access to the US market, and the first shipment has now arrived in the US from Northern Ireland’s biggest red meat exporter Foyle Food Group, who employ 1,150 people in the UK. Valued at more than £190,000, the agreement will see nearly £50,000 tariff relief to this landmark shipment alone – easing costs for businesses and supporting growth back home.

The UK’s food and drink exports were worth over £25 billion globally last year, £2 billion of which went to the US, with considerable potential to grow the UK’s global trade.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

The UK produces the finest food and drink, and I’m proud to champion our world-leading farmers, producers and exporters on the global stage.

I am leading the first ever dedicated agri-food trade mission to the US to pursue opportunities to grow our trade with the largest consumer market in the world.

The first agri-trade mission will seize on British food’s reputation for high quality and standards, taking the very best of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector directly to America’s buyers, businesses and decision-makers. In a market of more than 300 million people, the visit will turn international prestige into real commercial opportunity for UK farmers and food producers. 

The Environment Secretary will be joined by key UK industry figures on her mission, including representatives from the National Farmers’ Union, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Foyle Food Group, the International Meat Trade Association and the Scotch Whisky Association.

She will attend the US Annual Meat Conference to support five of the UK’s largest meat exporters and discuss opportunities for growing the US market, flying the flag for UK meat among American buyers.

Reynolds will then host a major Food and Drink Showcase reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, bringing together UK exporters and buyers to sample premium beef alongside other world-class British products such as cheese, seafood, spirits and English sparkling wine.

Delegates from the Scotch Whisky Association will have opportunity to get their products in front of US buyers, championing one of the UK’s most iconic spirits in a market with strong consumer demand.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

For the first time, UK beef farmers have exclusive access to a market of over 300 million people, and that is a direct result of the deal we struck with the US last year.

This isn’t just symbolic — it’s delivering real results. British beef is world-class, and American consumers deserve access to it. I look forward to seeing more of our farmers seize this opportunity and grow their businesses on the international stage.

Michael Acheson, Business Development at Foyle Food Group, said:

Foyle Food Group is delighted that the UK has secured a 13,000 metric tonne quota for British beef in the United States through the new UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

This agreement provides tariff-free access to the world’s largest beef market. For Foyle Food Group, it means we can now offer British beef to a wide range of customers across the United States. Securing this dedicated UK quota for the first time also allows us to build longer-term business relationships and provide a more consistent and reliable supply into the US market.

The trade mission also kickstarts the government’s ambition to act on Baroness Batters’ Farming Profitability Review, which identified expanding export opportunities as essential to supporting farm businesses to improve profitability and driving economic growth across every part of the United Kingdom.

As the Environment Secretary outlined during her address to the National Farmers Union Conference on Tuesday 25 February, the government is committed to dedicated trade missions to showcase British food and drink overseas.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said:

As one of the commitments made off the back of the Farm Profitability Review, it’s great to see the Secretary of State undertaking this trip in collaboration with industry.

There is a growing demand in the US for a range of UK products, not least British beef but also lamb, dairy and pork. We hope to build on this momentum and champion high quality British produce in new and potential markets.

Emily Norton, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Chair, said:

International trade and access to a broad portfolio of markets are vitally important for our red meat and dairy industry. The appetite for our world-class red meat and dairy produce was underlined last year with record values of UK exports achieved for both sectors.

Central to this success is the importance of connecting with people to help our exports continue to thrive. AHDB’s updated report on prospects for UK agri-food exports in North America has highlighted long-term opportunities for premium red meat and dairy products in the USA and the wider region. We welcome the Secretary of State’s visit and look forward to continuing working with government and industry to help deliver further success for British red meat and dairy exports.

Mark Kent, Chief Executive at the Scotch Whisky Association, said:

It is good to be teaming up with the Secretary of State on her trip to Washington DC. We’re proud that Scotch whisky is the UK’s biggest food and drink export, and the United States is our most important market, worth £933 million in 2025. Scotch whisky has deep, longstanding ties with the American whiskey industry – not just through our closely connected supply chain, but in our shared commitment to a premium product that’s loved around the world.

At a time when global trade is evolving and our sector is seeing increased pressure in crucial markets like the US, the Secretary of State’s visit is an important opportunity to build on that historic relationship while championing zero tariff trade which benefits whisky industries, and their supply chain from farmers to barrel makers to the hospitality industry, on both sides of the Atlantic.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 February 2026.

Company boss handed suspended prison sentence and massive bill for illegally dumping thousands of tonnes of waste across England.

A prolific waste criminal has been ordered to hand over more than £1.4 million for illegally dumping in excess of 4,275 tonnes of waste across England.

A nationwide investigation by the Environment Agency uncovered a network of 16 illegal dumping sites, stretching from the northeast to the south coast. Farms, a historic manor house and a nature reserve were among the locations trashed.

Varun Datta, 36, of Little Chester Street, London, must now pay £1.1 million, reflecting the financial benefit from his crimes, plus £100,000 in compensation and £200,000 in prosecution costs. He was also slapped with a prison sentence of four months suspended for 18 months, as well as 30 days’ rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The shocking case, which concluded in Birmingham Crown Court last Friday (13 February), involved the prosecution of two other men, with one being fined and the other facing a suspended sentence, rehabilitation and unpaid work. Warrants for the arrest of two other men are still active.

Emma Viner, Enforcement and Investigations Manager in the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Unit, said:

We are glad to see the perpetrators brought to justice in this appalling case.

Despite their attempts to conceal their criminality, our in-depth investigation spanning the length and breadth of the country ultimately uncovered those responsible.

We will never stop fighting to end the scourge of waste crime which scars our environment and communities.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

This is a shocking case of illegal waste dumping, orchestrated by a group of shameless crooks who thought they could operate above the law.

I welcome the punishments secured by the Environment Agency – which send a clear message to criminals that they have nowhere to hide.

This government is committed to stamping out this type of criminality across the country by boosting funds to tackle waste crime and introducing tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law.

In 2018, the Environment Agency seized £131,520 in cash from Datta’s home address. In 2022, a restraint order was applied to two bank accounts ensuring that any future confiscation order could be paid. After pleading not guilty in 2023, Datta subsequently pleaded guilty in June 2025 to knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited at sixteen sites. The total weight of the waste was around 4,275 tonnes – roughly the weight of 600 African elephants.

The offences were branded “reckless” by Judge Paul Farrar KC. “Smell and flies were a feature at some of the illegal sites and caused a localised adverse effect to air quality,” he said, with landowners “forced to incur substantial costs in removing the illegal waste.” No environmental permit or valid exemption was in place at any of the sites, which were spread across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Kent, Surrey, Rutland and Middlesborough.

The court heard that Datta became a registered waste broker through his company, Atkins Recycling Ltd, in 2015. He acted recklessly by claiming the waste the company handled was being sent to a legal site at Kiveton Park, near Sheffield. However, the loads were actually diverted to unlicensed dumps around the country. It is alleged that an associate, Sandeep Golechha, 55, of Wheatley Close, London, helped to falsify weighbridge documents to cover up the illegal acts.

The £100,000 in compensation to be paid by Datta relates to the dumping at the former Sulzer Dowding Mills Factory site in Middlesbrough, as well as the Middleton Nature Reserve in Lancashire. Middlesborough Council will receive £70,000 towards the cost of the clean-up, while £30,000 will be awarded to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust for the future management of the Middleton Nature Reserve.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is asked to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline – 0800 80 70 60 – or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

• Datta has been ordered to pay £1,116,432.78 by way of a Confiscation Order. This figure was agreed by the parties. It represents the financial gain to the defendant from knowingly causing the deposit of waste.
• Mohammed Saraji Bashir, 45, of Windmill Street, Peterborough, had pleaded guilty on 3 June 2025 for knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited at three sites. He was given a prison sentence of four months suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Robert William McAllister, 55, of Iveagh Close, Northwood, London, had pleaded guilty on 7 November 2024 for failing to comply with the duty of care imposed on brokers of waste, in relation to controlled waste that was deposited at two sites. He was fined £750.
• The Court was told that Bashir and McAllister acted as brokers. They both failed to ensure that the waste transferred was going to permitted sites.
• Warrants for Sandeep Golechha, 53, of Wheatley Close, London, and Jason Newman, of no fixed abode, are still active.
• The majority of the waste dumped was mixed municipal waste, wrapped in plastic to form bales.

The Sites

1. Unit P, Continental Approach, Westwood Business Park, Margate, Kent
2. Trelawny House, Straight Drove, Farcet, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
3. Somersbury Manor, Horsham Lane, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Surrey
4. The Drift, Sewstern, Grantham, Lincolnshire
5. Stockenhall Farm, Stretton, Rutland
6. Yaxley Lodge Farm, Yaxley, Cambridgeshire
7. Conquest Drove, Farcet, Cambridgeshire
8. Humby Mills Farm, Grantham, Lincolnshire
9. Sycamore Farm, Lower Bassingthorpe, Grantham, Lincolnshire
10. Peacock Farm, Muston, Leicestershire
11. Lime Tree Farm, English Drove, Thorney, Lincolnshire
12. Gill Bridge Farm, Boston, Lincolnshire
13. The Limes, Spalding, Lincolnshire
14. The Former Sulzer, Dowding and Mills Factory, Lower East Street, Middlesbrough
15. Middleton Nature Reserve, Lancashire
16. Rhyddings Mill, Stonebridge Lane, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire