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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Ninth Report of the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2024-26 on Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), HC 852, published on 23 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of banning the use of PFAS.

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, represent one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

On 3 February 2026, the Government fulfilled its commitment from the revised Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, by publishing the UK’s first-ever PFAS Plan. This sets out how we will work across government, industry, regulators, agencies, the scientific community and the public to understand the sources of these chemicals; tackle how they move around in the environment; and act to reduce public and environmental exposure.

The plan reflects Defra’s commitment to protect public health and the environment while supporting innovation and economic growth. Our long-term vision is to work in partnership, taking a science-based and proportionate approach, to reduce and minimise the impacts of harmful PFAS on public health and the environment, including through the transition to safer alternatives.

Defra also welcomes the recent EAC report HC 852 and its recommendations. Defra will provide a response from Government in line with usual procedures.