House of Commons select committee, the Environmental Audit Committee, is launching a new inquiry to address the risks of PFAS forever chemicals within the UK’s regulatory approach.
The inquiry, ‘Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)‘ will examine what the risks are of these highly durable chemicals to humans and the environment.
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.
Topics for discussion will include:
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 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 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?
“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.”
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