Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 19
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 ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Government should draw on international best practice and collaborate with established PFAS research programmes to ensure that the UK is fully aligned with and contributing to this global evidence base. This will enable the Government to make evidence-based decisions more quickly and reduce the cost to the UK taxpayer. A synthesis report summarising the UK’s international engagement, findings and planned actions should be published within six months of this Committee’s report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)
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".