8
Deferred
The Government should reform UK REACH by March 2027 to avoid further delay in restricting...
Recommendation
The Government should reform UK REACH by March 2027 to avoid further delay in restricting PFAS. The Government should set targets at half the statutory maximum timescales and ensure that the Health and Safety Executive has the resources to meet these accelerated timelines. (Recommendation, Paragraph 38)
Government Response Summary
The government shares the ambition to reform UK REACH for faster restrictions, stating they will align with EU decisions, but commits to introducing reforms, including necessary legislation, by December 2028, which is later than the recommended March 2027.
Government Response
Deferred
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We share the Committee’s ambition to ensure UK REACH remains an effective and proportionate framework for managing risks to human health and the environment, including those posed by PFAS, while supporting innovation and maintaining industry competitiveness. We are already working to reform UK REACH so that restrictions can be applied more quickly, more efficiently and in a way that is more closely aligned with our closest trading partner, the EU. This would represent a different approach from the current process, rather than simply reducing the maximum timescales within the existing statutory model. We intend to draw from EU regulatory decisions unless there are compelling reasons to diverge. In this context, EU regulatory decisions include final EU REACH restrictions. In so doing, we will retain full control over our regulatory decisions. This approach aims to reduce uncertainty, provide a clearer direction of travel for both industry and regulators, and avoid the time-consuming, costly and unnecessary duplication of EU scientific assessments. To introduce these reforms, we plan to undertake both targeted engagement on key policy design issues, including what would be compelling reasons for divergence, and formal public consultation. We are committed to introducing reforms, including any necessary legislation, by December 2028.
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