A policy paper published on 3 February sets out how the government plans to minimise the risks presented by PFAS in the environment – the UK’s first cross-government strategy. Some experts welcomed its potential to act as a platform for stronger regulation, although critics noted the absence of clear timelines and enforceable limits, with appraisals varying from “incredibly weak” to “crushingly disappointing”1
The UK PFAS Plan promises an approach “rooted in science and collaboration”,2 but seems to plot a distinctly different direction of travel compared to the EU, where the most stringent regulation is taking shape, by all accounts. So far, EU measures include outright bans on PFAS use in certain countries and sectors, while the European Chemicals Agency is considering a universal PFAS restriction covering thousands of chemicals.3 In January, the EU revised its Drinking Water Directive to include enforced mandatory and harmonised monitoring for PFAS in drinking water.4
In contrast, the UK PFAS Plan offers a mantra-like articulation of the need to “manage risks”. The foreword states: “We wish to find the right balance between the ongoing use of some PFAS and the valuable benefits PFAS can provide, whilst ensuring we transition to safe and sustainable alternatives where appropriate.” And while this hoped-for transition takes place, “there is an ongoing need to manage the prevalence and risks of PFAS in society and in the environment.”
Yes, but how? The “three pillars of the plan” are explored in separate sections titled “Understanding PFAS Sources”, “Tackling PFAS pathways” and “Reducing ongoing exposure to PFAS)”. These seem to deal very much in the currency of unspecified “actions” and things that should happen.
“Many actions in the plan are high level, without clear timelines or delivery mechanisms,” said Stephanie Metzger, policy advisor with the Royal Society of Chemistry.5 She also bemoaned a lack of detail on “how the polluter pays principle will be applied in practice.”
While the Plan’s heavy emphasis on monitoring and research could be viewed as building a basis for powerful action, it was also interpreted as prevarication, and ducking the responsibility to act decisively on an already-compelling evidence base.
Professor Tony Gutierrez of Heriot-Watt University said the Plan provided “an excellent framework to understand ‘cause and effect’ with a key aim to derive formal and regulatory standards for concentrations of PFAS species in drinking waters, as well as aquatic and soil environments.”
“However, research and data gathering can be slow, so how long will this take is an open question, considering the urgent need to reduce the release of these chemicals into the environment and sources to human exposure.”
Dr Rob Collins of the Rivers Trust described the document as “weak and tentative”.
“Whilst continued monitoring is necessary, the government should take urgent heed of an already overwhelming body of scientific evidence confirming the prevalence of PFAS and its impacts – and act now. The time for assessing restrictions is long overdue and the government needs to urgently mirror the European Union’s universal PFAS restriction that has already triggered action from both France and Denmark to ban PFAS in textiles and cosmetics.”
“Controlling PFAS ‘at source’ in this way will reduce emissions to the environment, including drinking water supplies, rivers and coastal waters and, within sewage sludge that is applied to agricultural land.”
Notes
[1] “Environmentalists decry ‘crushingly disappointing’ Pfas action plan for UK”, The Guardian, 3 February.
[2] “PFAS Plan: building a safer future together”, policy paper published on 3 February. Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pfas-plan/pfas-plan-building-a-safer-future-together#foreword.
[3] “EU restricts use of ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foams”, Reuters, 3 October 2025.
[4] “New EU-wide protections against PFAS in drinking water come into effect”, Europa.eu, Link: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-limit-pfas-drinking-water-2026-01-12_en
[5] “UK launches PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ plan as critics warn it lacks regulatory action”, Engineering and Technology, 3 February. Link: https://eandt.theiet.org/2026/02/03/uk-launches-pfas-forever-chemicals-plan-critics-warn-it-lacks-regulatory-action.
