CHEM Trust has submitted evidence to the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) inquiry into PFAS – per and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistence. PFAS are a group of around 10,000 synthetic chemicals known for their heat, water, and oil resistance. They are used in products like non-stick cookware, textiles, and food packaging. Unfortunately, they are also linked to serious health impacts, including certain types of cancer, immune system suppression, and developmental issues in children. The EAC inquiry aims to assess the UK’s current regulatory framework concerning the use, monitoring, and disposal of PFAS, and to determine whether existing measures adequately protect public health and the environment.
Below we summarise the main issues we raised in our response.
The PFAS threat in the UK is widespread, persistent, and harmful
Over 10,000 sites across the UK have been identified as PFAS contamination hotspots, including landfills, military bases, and sewage outfalls. PFAS have also contaminated people’s blood, food, drinking water, freshwater, marine environments, and wildlife species such as otters, harbour porpoises, and seabirds in the UK. PFAS pollution is so severe in some areas, like Jersey, that people are being offered bloodletting.
The UK is falling behind the EU when it comes to PFAS regulation
Since the UK left the EU, it has significantly fallen behind in regulating harmful chemicals such as PFAS. The EU has already regulated PFAS use in various applications like firefighting foams, children’s toys, and food packaging. Additionally, the EU’s universal PFAS (uPFAS) restriction proposes to ban over 10,000 PFAS across a wide range of sectors. Other than bans on PFAS agreed internationally, the UK, on the other hand, has not banned a single PFAS since it left the EU. The UK’s regulatory analysis (RMOA) has a limited scope and does not cover PFAS like fluoropolymers despite their known environmental and health harms. Leading scientists have publicly criticised the UK’s weak approach and have urged stronger, comprehensive PFAS regulation.
There is uneven protection on PFAS across the UK
There is also a wide disparity in PFAS regulation across the UK. While Scotland adheres to EU limits on PFAS levels in drinking water, Northern Ireland falls within EU REACH. This means that people and wildlife in England and Wales are more vulnerable to PFAS exposure.
CHEM Trust recommendations
CHEM Trust urges the UK government to match the EU’s uPFAS restriction and regulate the use and manufacturing of all 10,000 PFAS as a group. While remediation and monitoring of badly polluted areas are important, they are also extremely expensive endeavours and should not be prioritised over regulating PFAS at the source. Where monitoring and remediation are necessary, the financial resources should be generated via the polluter pays principle and the burden should not lie on the taxpayer or overstretched local authorities. The UK should also follow the examples of France, and Denmark, who have decided to act ahead of the uPFAS restriction with bans on some consumer uses and introduced national action plans and PFAS emission taxes to improve protections for people and the environment. In going ahead of the EU restriction, Denmark refers to its support for the EU restriction and sets out how its national measures will align with it: the ban in Denmark will remain in force until it is replaced by the EU Restriction.
