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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

7 items
8 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

The Government should reform UK REACH by March 2027 to avoid further delay in restricting...

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) Read more

Government response AI 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.
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10 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

The Government should commission the Health and Safety Executive under UK REACH to bring forward...

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 47) Read more

Government response AI 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.
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21 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

The Government should set limits on the levels and types of PFAS permitted in food,...

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 chain through agricultural processes. The Government should publish these limits … Read more

Government response AI 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.
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28 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

The Government must set out in its response a timeline to divert PFAS waste from...

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) Read more

Government response AI 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.
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29 Conclusion 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

Remediating PFAS contamination in the environment is expensive and technically complex.

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 long term environmental and financial burden. (Conclusion, Paragraph 106) Read more

Government response AI 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 …
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30 Conclusion 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

The Government has not applied the polluter pays principle adequately to deter future PFAS emissions...

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) Read more

Government response AI 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), …
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32 Recommendation 9th Report - Addressing the risks from … Deferred

Existing PFAS contamination in the environment must be addressed alongside prevention.

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 the environment, and mounting costs will continue to fall on … Read more

Government response AI 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.
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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…