UK Parliament Probes PFAS and Plans Stronger Regulations

On 10 April 2025, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) launched a parliamentary inquiry to assess whether the UK regulatory framework adequately addresses the health and environmental risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The committee is seeking written evidence by 26 May 2025.

This initiative builds on actions already underway under UK REACH and the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) regulations, which include restriction dossiers on firefighting foams and "dispersive" uses of PFAS.

Table of contents

• 1. British regulatory context

• 2. Scope of the EAC investigation

• 3. Key regulatory trends

• 4. Implications for the industry and recommendation Belab Services

• 5. Conclusion

• Official references

United Kingdom: Parliamentary inquiry into PFAS and future regulatory reinforcement

1. British regulatory context

Instrument	Scope on PFAS	Current situation
POPs (retained Reg. (EU) 2019/1021)	Prohibits PFOS; PFOA; PFHxS except for exemptions; applies directly in Great Britain through the POPs Regulation 2023	Current
UK REACH	Identification as SVHC and possible authorizations/restrictions	PFBS, PFHxS, APFO and others included in the HSE Candidate List
RMOA PFAS (HSE, 2023)	Need for sectoral restrictions concluded	In progress
PFAS-FFF (firefighting foams) restriction	Restriction dossier requested (art. 69) and public consultation closed in 2024	HSE/EA Technical Assessment consultations.hse.gov.uk
Rolling Action Plan 2024‑26	Maintains PFAS as a priority for future evaluations	Last updated March 10, 2025 HSE

2. Scope of the EAC investigation

The committee will examine:

1. Threats and benefits of PFAS throughout the life cycle.

2. Analytical capacity of UK agencies to monitor human and environmental exposure.

3. International comparison with EU and US approaches

4. Adequacy of the current regulatory framework and options for reform (e.g., group-based bans vs. individual substances).

Organizations can submit brief reports through the Chamber's online portal; the EAC encourages submission of analytical data, toxicological studies, and replacement costs.

3. Key regulatory trends

• Tightening residual limits. The recent European proposal to reduce the thresholds for PFOS as a trace contaminant (UTC) anticipates stricter analytical requirements; the United Kingdom is expected to harmonize values to maintain trade equivalence.

• Approach to dispersive uses: HSE has prioritized coatings, cleaning agents, and consumer goods with direct release to the environment. Companies with surface treatments, functional textiles, or lubricants must prepare mass balances and substitution plans.

• Fluorinated AFFF foam phase-out. The restriction file will assess withdrawal deadlines, residual use conditions, and collection systems; the airport, petrochemical, and military sectors will have different deadlines.

4. Implications for the industry and recommendation Belab Services

Action	Suggested deadline	Added value
PFAS inventory audit (raw materials, emissions, waste)	Q2 2025	Anticipates evidence requirements for EAC and future restrictions
Analytical tests with LOQ ≤ 1 µg kg⁻¹ in key matrices	Continuous	Demonstrates compliance capacity in the face of new UTCs
Replacing AFFF	Design Q3 2025 pilots	Reduces environmental liabilities and prevents regulatory obsolescence
Participation in the EAC call for evidence	Before May 26, 2025	Influencing regulatory developments and exposing technical barriers
PFAS-free contractual clauses	Renewals 2025	Protects the supply chain against possible recalls

5. Conclusion

The parliamentary inquiry reinforces the UK's move toward preventive and cross-cutting PFAS control . Companies should anticipate that residual thresholds and restriction areas will expand over the next two years. A robust system of analytical traceability and technological substitution will be essential to sustain competitiveness and access to the UK market.

Official references

1. House of Commons – EAC, Inquiry “Addressing the risks from PFAS” (opening 10 April 2025; deadline 26 May 2025). Committees - UK Parliament

2. HSE, Call for evidence: PFAS in firefighting foams (UK REACH consultation, 2024). consultations.hse.gov.uk

3. HSE, Rolling Action Plan 2024‑2026 (updated 10 Mar 2025). HSE

4. HSE, UK REACH Candidate List of SVHCs (accessed 22 Apr 2025). HSE

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