Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 10 Apr 2025 Parliament page
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of about 14,000 synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of everyday products. For example, PFAS are used to keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is … Read more
22 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
16 Jul
2026
Correspondence
8 Jul
2026
Correspondence
6 Jul
2026
Report published
23 Apr
2026
Report published
4 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
10 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
25 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
4 Feb 2026
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Emma Hardy MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Liz Parkes MBE · Environment Agency Marc Casale · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Matt Womersley · Environment Agency Richard Daniels · Health and Safety Executive
10 Dec 2025
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Environmental Audit Committee
David Henderson · Water UK Dr David Megson · Manchester Metropolitan University Professor Alan Boobis OBE · Imperial College London Professor Elsie Sunderland · Harvard University Professor Martyn Kirk · Australian National University Vicky Robinson · The Agricultural Industries Confederation
10 Sep 2025
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Dr Andrew Schwarz · Fluorok Dr Andy Joel · F2 Chemicals Ltd Duncan Sanders · ATG Group Professor Luisa Orsini · University of Birmingham Stephanie Metzger · Royal Society of Chemistry Stuart Ede · AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd.
25 Jun 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andrew Spence · Britannia Fire Ltd Dr Joanna Cloy · Fidra Dr Nissanka Rajapakse · Johnson Matthey Linsey Cottrell · The Conflict and Environment Observatory Mark Hirlam · Delipac Professor Michael Depledge CBE · European Centre for Environment and Human Health
Title HC No. Published Items Response
9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfl… HC 852 23 Apr 2026 38 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Voluntary action on PFAS and self-regulation by industry are not sufficient to ensure transparency, accountability...
Voluntary action on PFAS and self-regulation by industry are not sufficient to ensure transparency, accountability or reduce PFAS emissions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 24)
Government Response
The government shares the Committee’s ambition for an effective UK REACH framework and commits to reforming it by December 2028 to enable quicker and more efficient restrictions on substances like PFAS, drawing from EU regulatory decisions to strengthen oversight beyond voluntary action.
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4 Recommendation Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government must act in line with the environmental principles, taking preventative and precautionary action...
The Government must act in line with the environmental principles, taking preventative and precautionary action to reduce cumulative PFAS exposure to both people and the environment. We expect the Government to set out in its response how its approach to … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that the Environmental Principles Policy Statement, including the Precautionary Principle, has been given due regard in the development of the PFAS Plan. They explain that the plan's actions are supported by consideration of the principle due to the plausible risk of serious pollution from PFAS emissions.
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5 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
UK REACH, in its current lagging and slow-moving form, risks leaving the UK behind international...
UK REACH, in its current lagging and slow-moving form, risks leaving the UK behind international best practice and limits the Government’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging scientific evidence on PFAS. This increases the likelihood of further regulatory divergence between … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the current UK REACH framework is slow to introduce new restrictions and commits to delivering reforms as quickly as possible, intending to draw more from EU regulatory decisions to accelerate GB decision-making and reduce divergence.
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7 Recommendation Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
UK REACH must be reformed to enable swifter restrictions on PFAS to ensure the UK...
UK REACH must be reformed to enable swifter restrictions on PFAS to ensure the UK can align with emerging evidence to act more quickly on substances of concern. (Conclusion, Paragraph 37)
Government Response
The government shares the ambition and is already working to reform UK REACH for swifter PFAS restrictions. They commit to targeted engagement and public consultation, aiming to introduce reforms and necessary legislation by December 2028.
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12 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Due to the impracticality of assessing thousands of PFAS one by one, and the risk...
Due to the impracticality of assessing thousands of PFAS one by one, and the risk that new substances emerge faster than they can be evaluated, the UK’s current approach leaves regulators struggling to keep pace with industry innovation. While the … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Environment Agency is already implementing a robust PFAS monitoring strategy as part of the PFAS Plan, identifying risks, and guiding remediation efforts. They are conducting comprehensive studies on PFAS in landfill sites and wastewater to inform future regulation.
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18 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The challenges of managing the risks of PFAS and associated health impacts are not issues...
The challenges of managing the risks of PFAS and associated health impacts are not issues faced by the UK alone. Many of the lessons relevant to the UK are already emerging from studies and regulatory processes across the European Union … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the value of international practices in PFAS remediation and states that the Environment Agency is already developing technical guidance based on a growing evidence base and international best practice.
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23 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Whilst the PFAS Plan sets out monitoring commitments, it lacks the specificity needed to inform...
Whilst the PFAS Plan sets out monitoring commitments, it lacks the specificity needed to inform and deliver action. Without clear requirements on what to monitor, the methods to use, and the thresholds for concern, and without adequate funding and laboratory … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the Environment Agency is already implementing a robust PFAS monitoring strategy, prioritising activity and using data to identify risks and guide regulatory action and remediation. They assert that the EA operates one of the world's most comprehensive PFAS environmental monitoring programmes.
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24 Recommendation Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should provide full detail, in its response, on how its PFAS monitoring strategy...
The Government should provide full detail, in its response, on how its PFAS monitoring strategy will support enforcement and remediation. This should include a clear explanation of how monitoring results will be used to identify risks, guide remediation activity, and … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the Environment Agency's existing PFAS monitoring programme already identifies risks, targets regulatory action, and supports remediation, and they are using robust scientific approaches to interpret the data for targeted interventions.
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33 Conclusion Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Industry urgently needs clear direction and Government approval on viable remediation methods so that contaminated...
Industry urgently needs clear direction and Government approval on viable remediation methods so that contaminated materials can be treated safely and at scale. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)
Government Response
The government recognises the value of formal guidance for PFAS remediation and states the Environment Agency is developing technical guidance for regulators, industry, and landowners on investigation, assessment, and management of PFAS contamination.
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34 Recommendation Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should support the development and deployment of scalable, cost-effective PFAS remediation technologies by...
The Government should support the development and deployment of scalable, cost-effective PFAS remediation technologies by directing investment through UK Research and Innovation into research, innovation and practical support. (Recommendation, Paragraph 115) Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of investment in PFAS remediation technologies and notes UKRI is already supporting projects. They commit to exploring further opportunities with UKRI to allocate funding for such projects starting from 2027/28.
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35 Recommendation Accepted
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government must publish formally approved guidance for PFAS remediation to provide businesses, local authorities...
The Government must publish formally approved guidance for PFAS remediation to provide businesses, local authorities and regulators with the certainty needed to deliver timely, safe and effective remediation. (Recommendation, Paragraph 116)
Government Response
The government recognizes the value of formal guidance for PFAS remediation and states the Environment Agency is developing technical guidance for regulators, industry, and landowners on investigation, assessment, and management of PFAS contamination, building on existing evidence and tools.
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Government Response AI assessment · 38 of 22 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 10
Deferred 7
Not Addressed 8
Rejected 1
Total 22 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
16 Jul 2026 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating the Government's response to the committees report on Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), 16 July
Parliament page
8 Jul 2026 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating the Government's response to the committees report on Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), 8 July
Parliament page