Historically the UK has not had or needed a defined Government policy on the conservation and utilisation of farm animal genetic resources. However, this situation has changed recently, partly as a result of international efforts, stimulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity, and led by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, to co-ordinate national strategies for conservation and utilisation of farm animal genetic resources. As part of this international effort, a National Consultative Committee was set up in the UK in 2001. This committee produced the UK Country Report on farm animal genetic resources, which was published in 2002 and submitted to FAO. This paper outlines the structure and recommendations of this report, and discusses government policy on farm animal genetic resources.