PFAS: MPs quiz Minister on future of regulation and remediation
On Wednesday, the Environmental Audit Committee will hear evidence from the Minister for Water, and environmental and health and safety regulators, in the final session of its inquiry into addressing the risks of PFAS.
MPs on the cross-party committee have been exploring how the government should approach regulating and remediating PFAS, so-called ‘forever chemicals’.
These chemicals are used in many everyday products, from cosmetics to frying pans, as well as products used by emergency services and the military, such as firefighting foam. But public concern has grown in recent years about the risks of PFAS contaminating the environment and even impacting human health.
Meeting details
In Wednesday’s session, MPs will question witnesses on how the government is approaching the regulation of such a large class of chemicals, including the future of UK REACH regulations, the main mechanism by which PFAS are regulated in the UK.
They will also ask about the government’s approach to legacy PFAS. They may ask who will be required to pay for remediating PFAS, and what methods will be used to destroy it.