Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Status: Open Opened: 10 Apr 2025 22 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

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 more effective. PFAS chemicals do … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and P… HC 852 23 Apr 2026 38 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
38 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Accepted in Part

The Government must commit, within six months, to funding the research and development of non-incineration...

The Government must commit, within six months, to funding the research and development of non-incineration PFAS destruction technologies through UK Research and Innovation and Innovate UK. (Recommendation, Paragraph 125) 48

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the role of R&D in non-incineration destruction and notes UKRI is already supporting projects. While 2026/27 funding is agreed, they commit to exploring further opportunities with UKRI to allocate funding for innovative PFAS destruction technologies from 2027/28, missing the requested six-month timeline …
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Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Feb 2026 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 View ↗
10 Dec 2025 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 View ↗
10 Sep 2025 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. View ↗
25 Jun 2025 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

23 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Spence · Joint Managing Director Britannia Fire Ltd 1
David Henderson · CEO Water UK 1
Dr Andrew Schwarz · Chief Business Officer Fluorok 1
Dr Andy Joel · Technical Support Chemist F2 Chemicals Ltd 1
Dr David Megson · Reader in Chemistry and Environmental Forensics Manchester Metropolitan University 1
Dr Joanna Cloy · Senior Project Manager Fidra 1
Dr Nissanka Rajapakse · Group Head of Product Stewardship Johnson Matthey 1
Duncan Sanders · Director for England ATG Group 1
Emma Hardy MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Linsey Cottrell · Environmental Policy Officer The Conflict and Environment Observatory 1
Liz Parkes MBE · Deputy Director for Climate Change, Chemicals & M… Environment Agency 1
Marc Casale · Deputy Director, Chemicals & International Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Mark Hirlam · Global Sales Director Delipac 1
Matt Womersley · Environment and Business Manager – Chemicals Regu… Environment Agency 1
Professor Alan Boobis OBE · Professor of Toxicology Imperial College London 1
Professor Elsie Sunderland · Fred Kavli Professor of Environmental Chemistry a… Harvard University 1
Professor Luisa Orsini · Professor of Evolutionary Systems Biology and Env… University of Birmingham 1
Professor Martyn Kirk · Professor of Applied Epidemiology Australian National University 1
Professor Michael Depledge CBE · Emeritus Professor European Centre for Environment and Human Health 1
Richard Daniels · Divisional Director of Chemicals Regulation Divis… Health and Safety Executive 1
Stephanie Metzger · Policy Advisor - Sustainable Chemicals Royal Society of Chemistry 1
Stuart Ede · Head of sustainability AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. 1
Vicky Robinson · Head of Sustainability The Agricultural Industries Confederation 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 Jul 2026 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs rela…
8 Jul 2026 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relati…