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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to prevent the proliferation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the marine environment.

Action has already been taken to ban or highly restrict specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) both domestically and internationally, including PFOS (perfluoro-octane sulfonate), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulphonic acid), the use and production of which was prohibited in 2023.

Internationally, PFAS was added to the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action in 2023. This list identifies substances considered to be a threat to the marine environment and the actions that OSPAR Contracting Parties (including the UK) should take to minimise those threats. The UK Government is also working closely with domestic regulators and key stakeholders to improve wider understanding and approach to managing the risks from PFAS. This includes working with the Environment Agency (EA) to assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources, and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches.

The EA monitors for PFAS in England. Additional PFAS are being added to those measured as the scientific capabilities and reference standards improve. The EA analyses PFAS in freshwater and saline fish. PFAS are also monitored in the marine environment by Centre for Environment, Fish and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), using samples from fish and cetaceans.