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
10 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
PFAS are highly persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals with the potential for long-term environmental and human harm,...
PFAS are highly persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals with the potential for long-term environmental and human harm, despite ongoing scientific uncertainties around the toxicity of different PFAS. (Conclusion, Paragraph 22)
Government Response
The government acknowledges the persistence and potential harm of PFAS, stating that its approach is guided by the Environmental Principles Policy Statement and the Precautionary Principle. They assert that the PFAS Plan is designed to strengthen understanding and take targeted action to reduce PFAS in the environment.
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Without a broad, group-based restriction on PFAS, the Government risks a “whack-a-mole” approach.
Without a broad, group-based restriction on PFAS, the Government risks a “whack-a-mole” approach. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56)
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee on the potential benefits of a group-based approach to PFAS regulation and notes that its current scientific and regulatory expertise already supports this. It is awaiting the final EU REACH universal PFAS restriction to inform future UK approaches.
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15 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should consult on the establishment of an industry-funded mechanism to rapidly assess the...
The Government should consult on the establishment of an industry-funded mechanism to rapidly assess the properties and risks of newly developed PFAS before they are permitted for use, and invest in the development of 44 safer alternatives. This mechanism should … Read more
Government Response
The government states that reducing PFAS emissions and supporting safer alternatives are central to their plan, and existing UK REACH frameworks require businesses to understand hazardous properties, but they do not commit to consulting on a new industry-funded mechanism for rapid assessment within 12 months.
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Although the Government has begun setting statutory limits for PFAS in drinking water, which is...
Although the Government has begun setting statutory limits for PFAS in drinking water, which is a welcome step, significant gaps remain in managing and limiting human exposure to PFAS through food and agricultural pathways. (Conclusion, Paragraph 76)
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of addressing PFAS exposure through food and agricultural pathways, stating that risk management options, including setting maximum levels, will be considered following a scientific review. The Food Standards Agency is also strengthening testing capabilities and gathering occurrence data.
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25 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should accompany this with an assessment of the resources required for the Environment...
The Government should accompany this with an assessment of the resources required for the Environment Agency to deliver their responsibilities outlined in the PFAS Plan and commit to providing the associated funding in its response. (Recommendation, Paragraph 85) Addressing pollution Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of appropriately resourcing the EA for PFAS responsibilities and will continue to assess their medium and long-term needs through established processes, without committing to provide associated funding in the response.
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26 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Lack of supply chain transparency fundamentally undermines the UK’s ability to manage PFAS at end-of-life,...
Lack of supply chain transparency fundamentally undermines the UK’s ability to manage PFAS at end-of-life, leaving councils, waste operators and regulators unable to prevent products with PFAS entering landfill, and leading to further pollution of waterways, soil and the wider … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of improving PFAS supply chain transparency, noting that existing regulatory frameworks (UK REACH, CLP) provide some mechanisms. They are monitoring international developments and will continue to engage with industry to explore future improvements, while acknowledging the challenges of mandatory reporting.
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27 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should consult on mandatory PFAS disclosures across supply chains within six months, requiring...
The Government should consult on mandatory PFAS disclosures across supply chains within six months, requiring manufacturers and importers to report the presence and purpose of PFAS in products placed on the UK market to support safe handling and disposal. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the value of improving transparency and states existing frameworks provide mechanisms for information on hazardous substances, but does not commit to consulting on mandatory PFAS disclosures across supply chains within six months, citing challenges with global supply chains.
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31 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should apply the polluter pays principle to prevent ongoing and historic PFAS contamination...
The Government should apply the polluter pays principle to prevent ongoing and historic PFAS contamination and consult by March 2027 on establishing a national PFAS Remediation Fund. The Government should: • explore the implications of an emissions levy for PFAS … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the recommendations on the polluter pays principle, levies, and a national PFAS Remediation Fund, agreeing they warrant serious consideration as part of a longer-term approach, but does not commit to consulting by March 2027 or establishing the fund.
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36 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
PFAS contamination cannot be addressed without reliable destruction capacity.
PFAS contamination cannot be addressed without reliable destruction capacity. Current UK incineration capacity is insufficient to treat the increasing volume of PFAS containing waste diverted from landfill, and significant gaps remain in the availability, scalability, and verification of other destruction … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of understanding waste management implications and is keeping the issue under active review, noting that current capacity constraints exist. They anticipate an HSE opinion and potential transition periods will inform future understanding of capacity requirements.
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37 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should assess the volume of PFAS containing waste expected from forthcoming restrictions and...
The Government should assess the volume of PFAS containing waste expected from forthcoming restrictions and determine whether UK high- temperature incineration capacity is sufficient. The Government should write to the Committee with its findings and proposed actions within six months. … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of understanding waste implications and is keeping the issue under active review, noting that HSE's forthcoming opinion on PFAS in firefighting foams will set out assessments and that any transition period for restrictions would allow for new treatment capacity.
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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