Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

DEFRA definition

What does DEFRA mean? In legal practice, DEFRA means the UK Government’s Department for environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It makes policy, proposes and implements secondary legislation, and issues guidance affecting environmental law, agriculture, fisheries, food, water, waste, biodiversity and rural affairs, primarily in England. The department is named in legislation, but the acronym “DEFRA” is a widely used descriptive term rather than a statutory definition. DEFRA sponsors and oversees key regulators and arm’s‑length bodies, including the environment agency (England), Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation. Its decisions, policy statements, consultations and directions are frequently cited in regulatory compliance, permitting, procurement, subsidy...

Office for Environmental Protection: statutory framework, jurisdiction, functions and enforcement under the Environment Act 2021 (England and Northern Ireland)

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

Background

This public body safeguards and enhances the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account in England and Northern Ireland. Its origins lie in a 2018 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation, 'Environmental Principles and Governance after the UK leaves the EU'. That consultation proposed 'a new, independent and statutory body holding government to account for the environment', replacing European Union (EU) oversight and Enforcement that would end when the UK left the EU. Those proposals were developed in the Draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill, which then evolved into the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021).

Environment Act 2021

EA 2021 received Royal Assent on 9 November 2021. For information on its development, see Practice Note: Environment Act 2021—developments [Archived]. Sections 22–49 and Schedules 1 and 3 establish the OEP and set out its functions. The OEP came into existence on 17 November 2021. Before then, the Interim Environmental Governance Secretariat (IEGS) operated from 1 January to 1 July 2021, and the 'Interim OEP' from 2 July to 16 November 2021. For more information on the...

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Angus Evers

Shoosmiths

Angus qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and has been the head of the environmental law practice at national law firm Shoosmiths LLP since 2016. Prior to that he was a partner in the planning and environment group at King & Wood Mallesons (formerly SJ Berwin). He specialises in advising on the environmental, health and safety aspects of major infrastructure projects and corporate, banking and real estate transactions. He has particular expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and has advised clients including operators and developers of power stations, wind farms (both onshore and offshore), LNG terminals, ports, and underground and undersea gas storage facilities, as well as public sector and government organisations. His work includes drafting and negotiating warranties, indemnities and agreements on environmental liability. He also has considerable experience in areas as diverse as contaminated land, waste management, asbestos...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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