Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 1
9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Published 23 Apr 2026
Environmental Audit Committee Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
PFAS are highly persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals with the potential for long-term environmental and human harm, despite ongoing scientific uncertainties around the toxicity of different PFAS. (Conclusion, Paragraph 22)
From: Environmental Audit Committee, 9th Report - Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (HC 852), 23 April 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 6 July 2026 (deadline 23 June 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response draws on the PFAS Plan published on 3 February 2026 and, on most recommendations, says it is working across government or awaiting the final EU REACH PFAS restriction rather than adopting the Committee's specific proposals.
- On UK REACH reform (recommendation 3), the government shares the Committee's ambition but describes a different approach, drawing from EU decisions "unless there are compelling reasons to diverge", with reforms, "including any necessary legislation, by December 2028".
- On restricting PFAS (recommendations 4 and 5), it says it "await[s] to see" how the final EU REACH universal PFAS restriction applies, and will "consider (if applicable)" essential-use approaches.
- On food limits (recommendation 10), the Food Standards Agency will consider risk management options, "including setting maximum levels for PFAS in food", following publication of the Committee on Toxicity's review.
- On polluter pays and remediation (recommendation 16), it "agree[s]" the proposals "warrant serious consideration" and will "continue to explore" them. On UKRI research (recommendations 17 and 20), it is "committed to exploring further opportunities", with funding "to be granted from 2027/28".