Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 July 2026 · HC 519
Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating the Government's response to the committees report on Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), 16 July
From: Environmental Audit Committee
Inquiry: Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Summary
Emma Hardy MP responds on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Environmental Audit Committee's report on PFAS risks. The government confirms its commitment to reform UK REACH by December 2028, using EU scientific assessments as a starting point for UK regulatory decisions on PFAS while retaining full regulatory control and maintaining stakeholder engagement.
Key findings
- Government will use EU scientific and socio-economic assessments relating to PFAS restriction under consideration
- Final published EU REACH restriction will serve as the starting point for UK regulatory decisions
- UK REACH reform committed for completion by December 2028 to enable faster, more efficient chemical protections
- Government will align regulation more closely with EU unless compelling reasons to diverge exist
- Meaningful stakeholder engagement and appropriate consultation will remain part of the regulatory process
Government position
The government accepts the committee's welcoming of its intention to draw on international evidence for PFAS decisions. It commits to reforming UK REACH by December 2028, taking EU regulatory decisions as the starting point for UK decisions while retaining full regulatory control. The government states it will engage stakeholders meaningfully and currently develops proposals for consultation.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emma Hardy MP, Emma Reynolds MP, Toby Perkins MP, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environmental Audit Committee
Notable line
“… intend to take the final published EU REACH restriction as the starting point for our considerations.”
Key Quotes
“… we will take regulatory decisions made by the EU as the starting point for UK regulatory decisions and align our regulation more closely with that of the EU unless there are compelling reasons to diverge”
“We expect to make use of the EU scientific and socio-economic assessments and analysis that relate to the EU REACH restriction under consideration”
“Meaningful stakeholder engagement will remain an important part of our process, including appropriate consultation”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗