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 implications for his policies of the European Chemical Agency's decision to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

We actively monitor measures being considered in other jurisdictions to inform possible approaches in the UK, including the European Chemical Agency’s proposals for PFAS restrictions. The Health and Safety Executive is due to publish its dossier investigating whether to restrict the use, manufacture and sale of PFAS in fire fighting foams soon, for a six-month consultation. This dossier has included extensive analysis of risks and hazards of PFAS that are relevant to other uses and sets a firm foundation for further investigation of PFAS risks in Great Britain. Other work is continuing across Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future measures.