The government has established a combined Animal and Plant Health Agency to improve prevention of the spread of animal and plant diseases.
Headed by Chris Hadkiss, chief executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), the new combined body will start work on 1 October 2014.
It brings together the AHVLA and four functions of the Food and Environment Research Agency: the bee inspectorate, the plant health and seeds inspectorate, the plant variety and seeds group, and the GM inspectorate.
Environment minister Lord de Mauley said bringing together inspection functions would enable joined-up working on plant and animal diseases and pests, and increase resilience and flexibility in emergency responses.
A decision on the future of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and whether it should form part of the new agency will be made this autumn.