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The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) of the UK Parliament recently launched an investigation into addressing risks of PFAS chemicals within the UK’s regulatory approach. Written submissions are welcome before May 26, 2025.
Status quo of PFAS control in the UK
Currently, three groups of PFAS chemicals have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). As a Party to this Convention, the relevant bans and restrictions on these PFAS chemicals have taken effect in the UK, covering:
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its derivatives
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds
In addition, several PFAS chemicals have been identified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) and added to the Candidate List under UK REACH. For example,
Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (APFO)
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts
Perfluorohexane-1-sulphonic acid (PFHxS) and its salts
PFAS chemicals in the Candidate List may be recommended for inclusion on the Authorisation List of UK REACH.
As for the control of PFAS in products, the UK focuses more on introducing restrictions for fire-fighting foams, coatings, cleaning agents and consumer articles. More specifically:
By March 2025:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) planned to complete preparations of restriction dossier to set conditions for the placing on the market, and use of PFAS in firefighting foam (FFF), considering risk management throughout the lifecycle.
The HSE planned to prepare restriction proposal for wide dispersive uses of PFAS, such as the application of coatings or use of cleaning agents.
By 2026/27:
The HSE will prepare the restriction proposal for the manufacture and placing on the market of consumer articles from which PFAS are likely to be released into air, water or oil, or directly transferred to humans.
Call for evidence
This time, the EAC initiated a call for evidence to understand threats and benefits from using PFAS, the current status of measures to address PFAS, and whether the current regulatory approach for PFAS is fit for the purpose. The EAC also wants to study what the UK can learn from other countries on how to monitor and control PFAS. Shorter submissions are encouraged.
This investigation into PFAS further reflects the UK's proactive stance and determination in protecting human health and the environment. Given the risks that PFAS chemicals pose to human health and the environment, stricter controls are becoming an inevitable trend.
