5
Accepted
UK REACH, in its current lagging and slow-moving form, risks leaving the UK behind international...
Conclusion
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 Great Britain and Northern Ireland, creating trade barriers both ways, and detrimental consequences for UK goods in the EU market. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
Government Response Summary
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.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We are working across government to explore the most effective routes to address these risks. This includes work to consider how best to manage chemicals in consumer products more broadly, including PFAS. This will include a consideration of regulatory and non-regulatory options for certain products, including options to promote transparency and choice for consumers, while supporting industry to move away from PFAS, using all appropriate levers to incentivise safer alternatives wherever possible. As the Committee has acknowledged, the current UK REACH framework does not always facilitate new restrictions to be introduced rapidly, and reforms to improve these processes will take time to implement. That is why our focus is on delivering UK REACH reform as quickly as possible. The new approach should enable us to draw more from EU regulatory decisions to inform and accelerate GB decision-making. We await to see how the final EU REACH universal PFAS restriction applies to non-essential consumer products. In developing policy, we wish to carefully consider the benefits of restrictions for protecting human health and the environment against wider impacts, including costs to consumers and businesses, while also considering the safety and performance of alternatives. We are continuing to monitor developments in the EU to ensure future UK action is evidence-based, proportionate and effective.
Source
Committee
Environmental Audit Committee
Report
9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
23 Apr 2026
HC 852
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
23 Apr 2026