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 …
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22
Recommendations
16
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
2
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 8 events
16 Jul
2026
2026
8 Jul
2026
2026
6 Jul
2026
2026
23 Apr
2026
2026
4 Feb
2026
2026
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2025
2025
Oral evidence
10 Sep
2025
2025
Oral evidence
25 Jun
2025
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
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfl… | HC 852 | 23 Apr 2026 | 38 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
2
Conclusion
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government’s PFAS Plan disproportionately focuses on expanding PFAS monitoring rather than preventing or remediating...
The Government’s PFAS Plan disproportionately focuses on expanding PFAS monitoring rather than preventing or remediating contamination. Applying the Government’s own environmental principles demands decisive action now to limit further release and exposure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 23)
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Government Response
The government's response discusses its commitment to cooperating with the EU on shared environmental objectives and chemicals management, but it does not address the Committee's concern about the UK's PFAS Plan disproportionately focusing on monitoring rather than prevention or remediation.
6
Recommendation
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should make use of existing EU-UK dialogue mechanisms to support UK alignment with...
The Government should make use of existing EU-UK dialogue mechanisms to support UK alignment with EU REACH to avoid unnecessary regulatory divergence. Whilst UK Government may choose a different approach in some areas, without such alignment, UK manufacturers risk accidentally …
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Government Response
The government's response focuses on agreeing with the potential benefits of a group-based approach to PFAS regulation and how it draws on scientific expertise, but it does not address the recommendation to use EU-UK dialogue mechanisms to support alignment with EU REACH and avoid regulatory divergence.
9
Recommendation
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should adopt an essential-use approach to regulating PFAS, prioritising the rapid restriction of...
The Government should adopt an essential-use approach to regulating PFAS, prioritising the rapid restriction of PFAS in non-essential applications. Clearly defined exemptions should be set for essential uses, with time-limited derogations where substitutes are still being developed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 46)
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Government Response
The government's response outlines its involvement in international initiatives and general research efforts to understand and manage PFAS risks, but it does not address the specific recommendation to adopt an essential-use approach for regulating PFAS and restricting non-essential applications.
11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
Replacing one PFAS with another can perpetuate long-term environmental and health risks and can lead...
Replacing one PFAS with another can perpetuate long-term environmental and health risks and can lead to regrettable substitutions, whereby banned substances are rapidly replaced by chemically similar and potentially harmful alternatives. (Conclusion, Paragraph 54)
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Government Response
The government's response focuses on improving transparency around PFAS in consumer products and supply chains to support informed choice, but it does not directly address the Committee's concern about regrettable substitutions where banned substances are replaced by chemically similar and potentially harmful alternatives.
14
Recommendation
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should draw on independent scientific and regulatory expertise in taking a group-based approach...
The Government should draw on independent scientific and regulatory expertise in taking a group-based approach for PFAS regulation within three months of the EU’s forthcoming assessment. This should include assessing options for grouping PFAS with similar structures, so that future …
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Government Response
The government's response discusses the challenges of mandatory PFAS reporting and improving supply chain transparency, rather than addressing the recommendation to adopt a group-based approach for PFAS regulation and assess grouping options.
16
Conclusion
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
While gaps remain in understanding the toxicity of every individual PFAS, the evidence indicates that...
While gaps remain in understanding the toxicity of every individual PFAS, the evidence indicates that several PFAS are associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Studies of highly exposed groups show clearer and more immediate risks, underscoring the …
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Government Response
The government's response focuses on the "Polluter Pays Principle" and funding for PFAS contamination remediation, including the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme, but does not address the Committee's conclusion regarding the adverse health effects of PFAS, its bioaccumulation, and the need for precautionary action to protect public health.
17
Recommendation
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should invest in long-term research on the health effects of PFAS exposure in...
The Government should invest in long-term research on the health effects of PFAS exposure in the UK population. Within 12 months, it should publish a delivery plan setting out epidemiological studies to assess the cumulative impact of multiple PFAS and …
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Government Response
The government's response focuses on exploring opportunities for targeted investment in PFAS remediation innovation from 2027/28, which does not address the Committee's recommendation for long-term research on health effects, a delivery plan for epidemiological studies, or enhanced health screening for exposed groups.
19
Recommendation
Not Addressed
9th Report - Addressing the risks …
The Government should draw on international best practice and collaborate with established PFAS research programmes...
The Government should draw on international best practice and collaborate with established PFAS research programmes to ensure that the UK is fully aligned with and contributing to this global evidence base. This will enable the Government to make evidence-based decisions …
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Government Response
The government's response addresses the implications of PFAS restrictions on waste management infrastructure and firefighting foams, failing to engage with the recommendation to draw on international best practice, collaborate with research programmes, or publish a synthesis report on UK international engagement.
Government Response AI assessment · 38 of 22 classified
Accepted
11
Acknowledged
10
Deferred
7
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