Recommendation 10

HM Government · verbatim extract Deferred

We are working across government to explore the most effective routes to address these risks. This includes work to consider how best to manage chemicals in consumer products more broadly, including PFAS. This will include a consideration of regulatory and non-regulatory options for certain products, including options to promote transparency and choice for consumers, while supporting industry to move away from PFAS, using all appropriate levers to incentivise safer alternatives wherever possible. As the Committee has acknowledged, the current UK REACH framework does not always facilitate new restrictions to be introduced rapidly, and reforms to improve these processes will take time to implement. That is why our focus is on delivering UK REACH reform as quickly as possible. The new approach should enable us to draw more from EU regulatory decisions to inform and accelerate GB decision-making. We await to see how the final EU REACH universal PFAS restriction applies to non-essential consumer products. In developing policy, we wish to carefully consider the benefits of restrictions for protecting human health and the environment against wider impacts, including costs to consumers and businesses, while also considering the safety and performance of alternatives. We are continuing to monitor developments in the EU to ensure future UK action is evidence-based, proportionate and effective.