EAC launches new inquiry to address the risks of PFAS forever chemicals within the UK’s regulatory approach

New inquiry: Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

From waterproof clothing to frying pans, and cosmetics to food packaging, PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ are prevalent in many everyday items. But what are the risks of these highly durable chemicals to humans and the environment?

In a new inquiry, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be considering Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals with useful properties such as being resistant to heat, water, oil and grease. Due to their properties being unlikely to break down, they accumulate in the environment and in people’s bodies for decades. Research has indicated that PFAS can lead to a range of health issues, such as decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, a higher risk of certain cancers and immune system suppression. 

Members will be considering whether enough is being done to understand fully the risks of PFAS in the UK and whether research institutions and the Environment Agency are equipped to monitor their impact.

The Committee will also examine the UK’s regulatory framework for the use and disposal of PFAS, and will be asking whether UK registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals is adequate. The inquiry will also compare the UK approach to other jurisdictions around the world, such as the European Union and the United States of America.

Chair comment

Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Toby Perkins MP, said:

“PFAS forever chemicals are prevalent in countless everyday items. News coverage has exposed the level of problems with PFAS, and has shone a light that the UK’s regulatory approach is far less active than in many other jurisdictions. The Committee is looking into this important topic to better understand the risks associated with PFAS, and to ask what – if anything – the Government should do to strengthen the UK’s approach.”

Terms of reference

The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference by 5.00 pm on Monday 26 May 2025:

Understanding the threats and benefits from using Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

• What benefits do PFAS provide and how widely are they used?
• To what extent are UK health and environmental regulators equipped to detect, monitor and understand the risks posed by PFAS?
• How developed is the UK’s research base on the science of PFAS and the technology required to monitor their current and future impact?
• How sophisticated is current knowledge of how and where PFAS enter the supply chain?

- What is the current understanding of how PFAS are made and then used in terms of product ranges, and geographical and socioeconomic distribution?  

• To what extent are the Environment Agency, and other relevant UK bodies and research institutions, resourced to understand the current threat posed by PFAS and to monitor their impact going forward?

The current status of measures to address PFAS

• What are the current technologies and solutions to treat PFAS pollution, how cost effective and efficient are they and do they create additional risks?
• How well equipped is the UK’s research and development (R&D) base to improve existing approaches to dealing with PFAS?

Is the current regulatory regime for PFAS fit for purpose?

• Is the current regulatory regime for the use and disposal of PFAS, including UK registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (UK Reach), adequate? If not, how can it be improved?
• Is a precautionary approach to PFAS desirable or is an approach that uses regulation to assess their benefits and risks more appropriate?
• Is there any regulatory divergence across the UK in terms of PFAS? If so, what are the implications, and is there a need for a more joined-up approach?
• How do other jurisdictions around the world, including the EU and US, regulate PFAS use and disposal, and what lessons, if any, can the UK learn?

What lessons can the UK learn from other countries on how they monitor and treat PFAS?

• What lessons can the UK learn from other countries in terms of resourcing and supporting the detection, monitoring and treatment of PFAS pollution?
• How does the UK compare to other countries in terms of funding research and new technologies to improve outcomes?

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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