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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances where there are alternatives.

A Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA), published in April 2023, made a detailed assessment of the range of hazards and risks from Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) identified in Great Britain, as well as a preliminary analysis of the availability of alternatives for a range of applications. The RMOA recommended a range of actions including the development of UK REACH Restrictions for a wide range of PFAS uses.

Under the UK REACH Work Programme, we are investigating whether to restrict PFAS in firefighting foams and are progressing work to consider other measures relating to PFAS. The preparation of a UK REACH Restriction proposal requires there to be an assessment of the suitability of alternatives.

Innovation of suitable PFAS alternatives is also needed and we are working to harness industry leadership in the transition away from PFAS.