The Government is facing fresh calls to toughen its approach to PFAS, with MPs warning that non-essential uses of these so-called “forever chemicals” should be phased out as a matter of urgency. The Environmental Audit Committee’s new report released today, says current plans do not go far enough and argues that the UK needs a more precautionary and more robust regulatory approach.
PFAS are a large group of more than 10,000 man-made chemicals used in a wide range of products for their resistance to heat, grease, and water. But those same qualities mean they can persist in the environment and accumulate in the body over time, raising concerns about their possible links to serious health harms.
The Committee is calling for the Government to prioritise restrictions on PFAS in non-essential consumer products, including cookware, food packaging and school uniforms, with phased restrictions from 2027. It also says relying on voluntary action from industry will not be enough.
It also warns that the risk of new PFAS substances emerging faster than they can be assessed leaves regulators struggling to keep pace with industry, and can lead to banned substances being replaced by harmful alternatives. Without group-based restrictions, the Government risks taking a “whack-a-mole” approach to PFAS regulation, the Committee warns.
The Committee welcomes the Government’s action to set limits for PFAS in drinking water but warns that significant gaps remain in limiting exposure to PFAS through food and agriculture. It calls for the Government to set limits on the levels and types of PFAS permitted in food. While consumer products containing PFAS remain on the market, the Government should introduce interim limits and introduce standardised labelling to inform consumers.
Alongside tighter restrictions, MPs want stronger action on remediation and enforcement. Their report says the Government should apply the polluter pays principle, consult by March 2027 on a national PFAS Remediation Fund, and provide funding support for clean-up where no responsible party can be identified. As part of this Fund, it recommends that the Government explore the implications of an emissions levy for PFAS to hold polluters responsible, consider options for extending the polluter pays principle to products manufactured overseas and imported to the UK. And where no responsible party can be identified, it should provide dedicated central government funding for local authorities to remediate.
The Committee also highlights concerns about the UK’s limited capacity to safely destroy PFAS waste. It says current high-temperature incineration capacity is insufficient and calls on the Government to back research into alternative destruction technologies within six months.
The report, Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is now available.