Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps has she taken to reduce environmental contamination from PFA chemicals.

Action has already been taken to ban or highly restrict specific Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) both domestically and internationally, including perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, PFAS represent a very diverse group of chemicals with a wide range of uses for which safer and more sustainable alternatives are not yet available.

A 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA) on PFAS was published in Spring 2023 by the Health and Safety Executive. The RMOA assessed PFAS uses, exposure routes, and risk management actions specific to Great Britain. We have accepted the RMOA’s recommendations. These include reducing PFAS emissions by developing UK REACH restrictions, beginning with a restriction on PFAS in fire-fighting foams, and exploring further restrictions covering a wide range of industrial and consumer uses.

We are also developing a cross-government Chemicals Strategy to frame the work we are doing across chemicals and put us on a path for improved chemicals management. It will set out our priorities and principles for taking regulatory action to protect human health and the environment, including our approach to managing PFAS. We will publish the Chemicals Strategy in 2023.