Government Department Agencies

HMRC provides assistance on any matter relating to importing or exporting goods through UK frontiers.

The UK Border Agency manages immigration and customs anti-smuggling crime partnerships in the UK and overseas.

The Association of Port Health Authorities co-ordinates and promotes an efficient port health service. It represents the interests of member authorities in discussions with Government on all matters relating to health control of shipping, aircraft and imported food.

Southampton Port Health Services is responsible for carrying out all the statutory functions of the Port Health Authority in Southampton port and airport.

The London Port Health Authority, is part of the City of London Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, the city business sector of London. The Authority is responsible for a district which extends for 150 kilometres (94 miles) along the tidal Thames from Teddington to the outer estuary which includes the Ports of Tilbury, London Gateway, Thamesport and Sheerness.

The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

Trading Standards can provide information required to ensure that businesses comply with the laws, which they enforce. Trading Standards will also assist in creating and maintaining procedures to ensure ongoing compliance.

DEFRA aims to secure a healthy environment in which we and future generations can prosper, including Plant Health, Seed Inspectorate and the Environment Agency.

The Food and Environment Research Agency was formed by the merger of DEFRA's Plant Health Division (PHD), including the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI), DEFRA's Plant Variety Rights and Seeds Office (PVS) and Central Science Laboratory (CSL).

The Forestry Commission produces a number of plant health leaflets which give advice on the rules covering import, export and internal movement controls on wood and wood products as well as offering guidance on control techniques for forest managers to prevent the spread of certain pests.

The RPA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). RPA is a major delivery body for DEFRA, providing a range of services in support of the department's objectives. The key services we provide are making rural payments, carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.

The DFT work with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK's businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.

The MCA's vision is to be the best maritime safety organisation in the world, committed to Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas.

The Home Office leads on immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime policy and counter-terrorism and works to ensure visible, responsive and accountable policing in the UK.

The FCO promotes British interests overseas, supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is the department for economic growth. The department invests in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business. BIS also protects consumers and reduces the impact of regulation.