9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Select Committee
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 852
23 April 2026
Government Response (AI assessment · 38 of 38 classified)
Accepted
11
Acknowledged
10
Deferred
7
Rejected
1
Government response
2nd Special Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Government Response · published 6 Jul 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
8
Recommendation
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 …
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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.
10
Recommendation
Deferred
The Government should commission the Health and Safety Executive under UK REACH to bring forward...
Recommendation
The Government should commission the Health and Safety Executive under UK REACH to bring forward restrictions on PFAS in non-essential consumer products (e.g. food packaging, cookware and school uniforms) without delay and begin a phased restriction from 2027. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees action is needed but states current UK REACH reforms will take time, and they will consider regulatory and non-regulatory options, while monitoring EU developments before committing to specific restrictions or timelines.
21
Recommendation
Deferred
The Government should set limits on the levels and types of PFAS permitted in food,...
Recommendation
The Government should set limits on the levels and types of PFAS permitted in food, giving producers, retailers, and regulators a consistent basis for protecting public health. This should include establishing and monitoring 45 limits on PFAS entering the food …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that risk management options, including setting maximum PFAS levels in food, will be considered by the FSA after the Committee on Toxicity's review. The FSA is strengthening testing capabilities and gathering data.
28
Recommendation
Deferred
The Government must set out in its response a timeline to divert PFAS waste from...
Recommendation
The Government must set out in its response a timeline to divert PFAS waste from landfill towards safer treatment or destruction technologies to manage increasing volumes of PFAS waste without causing further environmental contamination. (Recommendation, Paragraph 95)
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Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of effective PFAS waste management and is conducting a review of landfill policies, considering POPs and PFAS, and gathering information for future interventions. They state any transition from landfill will be phased and evidence-led, but do not provide a timeline.
29
Conclusion
Deferred
Remediating PFAS contamination in the environment is expensive and technically complex.
Conclusion
Remediating PFAS contamination in the environment is expensive and technically complex. The current regulatory approach that permits continued use of PFAS until harm is proven means that these substances can legally continue to accumulate in the environment, steadily increasing the …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's focus on the Polluter Pays Principle and welcomes recommendations on funding and liability for PFAS, agreeing they warrant serious consideration for a longer-term approach. They are considering how existing support mechanisms like the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (announced for Autumn 2025) might help and will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen the principle's application.
30
Conclusion
Deferred
The Government has not applied the polluter pays principle adequately to deter future PFAS emissions...
Conclusion
The Government has not applied the polluter pays principle adequately to deter future PFAS emissions nor has it allocated sufficient government funding to tackle the remediation of PFAS in the environment where liable parties cannot be identified. (Conclusion, Paragraph 107)
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the Polluter Pays Principle and the committee's recommendations on PFAS remediation funding and liability, agreeing they warrant serious consideration for a longer-term approach. They are considering existing support mechanisms, including the Land Remediation Pathfinder Scheme (announced for Autumn 2025), and will continue to explore strengthening the principle's application.
32
Recommendation
Deferred
Existing PFAS contamination in the environment must be addressed alongside prevention.
Recommendation
Existing PFAS contamination in the environment must be addressed alongside prevention. Even with strong restrictions on future PFAS use, the UK already faces significant legacy contamination. Without action now, this legacy burden will pose long-term risks to public health and …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to address PFAS contamination and commits to exploring further investment opportunities with UKRI, aiming to allocate funding for remediation projects from 2027/28.