Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 31
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 apply the polluter pays principle to prevent ongoing and historic PFAS contamination and consult by March 2027 on establishing a national PFAS Remediation Fund. The Government should: • explore the implications of an emissions levy for PFAS on the UK REACH candidate list, to deter ongoing environmental contamination and hold polluters responsible; • consider options for extending the polluter pays principle to products manufactured overseas and imported into the UK; • ensure that when the Government extends the polluter pays principle that UK manufacturers are not at a disadvantage to overseas manufacturers of products; • increase dedicated central government funding for local authorities to remediate where no responsible party can be identified; and • ensure that the Remediation Fund and associated enforcement are overseen by the Environment Agency, and ensure that the Environment Agency has the necessary resources and skills required to implement any monitoring and enforcement responsibilities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 108)
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".