The government has been called on to urgently restrict non-essential uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, following the publication of a new report by the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee
The report, Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), warns that the UK is falling behind European counterparts in regulating these highly persistent chemicals, which are widely used in consumer products, industrial processes, and firefighting applications.
PFAS are a large family of more than 10,000 man-made substances valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. However, these same properties mean they do not easily break down, allowing them to accumulate in the environment and in the human body over time. Evidence links PFAS exposure to serious health concerns, including immune suppression, fertility and developmental problems, and certain cancers.
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, said: “From frying pans to fire extinguishers, PFAS are now central to every day and some lifesaving products, and nearly all of us will have some level of PFAS in our bodies.”
While welcoming the government’s recently published PFAS Action Plan, the committee concluded that it lacks decisive measures, with Perkins adding, “It appears to be a plan to eventually have a plan, rather than a concrete set of commitments to reduce and remediate PFAS. We do not need to panic, but we do need to take sensible precautions.”
The committee recommends an “essential-use” approach, calling for the phased restriction of PFAS in non-essential consumer products such as food packaging, cookware, and school uniforms from 2027. MPs warn that substance-by-substance regulation risks a “whack-a-mole” approach, with banned PFAS replaced by structurally similar alternatives.
A key focus of the report is remediation and disposal, with the committee urging the government to apply the “polluter pays principle” to both historic and ongoing contamination and to consult by March 2027 on establishing a national PFAS Remediation Fund. Where no responsible party can be identified, it says local authorities must be provided with central government funding to carry out clean-up operations.
Concerns were also raised about the UK’s limited capacity to destroy PFAS waste safely. Currently, only two hazardous waste incinerators are permitted to destroy PFAS, and evidence submitted to the inquiry suggests a growing backlog. Andy Spence of Britannia Fire told the committee of the extent of PFAS waste derived from portable firefighting appliances, saying, “There are over 10,000 tonnes waiting to be disposed of, so there is a backlog already—this is prior to any ban that comes into action”. Earlier this year, the Health and Safety Executive ran a consultation on a proposal to restrict the use of PFAS in firefighting foam.
The committee warned that reliance on high-temperature incineration alone is “insufficient” and recommended urgent investment in alternative destruction technologies. It called on the government to assess future volumes of PFAS-containing waste and to fund research into non-incineration solutions.
Perkins concluded, “the government has all the information it needs to get PFAS out of the environment and deter future pollution. Waiting will only make the problem worse. Now is the time to act.”