The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) recently announced a new framework to better protect the nation and the environment from harmful PFAS, commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’.

Historically PFAS have played an important role in supporting economic growth by being an essential component in critical manufacturing industries, while also helping the nation to meet climate change targets due to their inclusion in low-carbon technologies.  However, there is growing evidence that their widespread use has generated risks to both people and the environment, which will likely remain for hundreds of years.

This is the first-ever PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) plan and sets out the co-ordinated action that will be undertaken by governments, businesses and regulators to understand where these chemicals are coming from, how they spread and how to reduce public and environmental exposure. It will include:

• Developing new guidance for regulators and industries to address legacy PFAS pollution on contaminated land to ensure a consistent and practical approach.
• Consulting (later in 2026) on the introduction of a statutory limit for PFAS in England’s public supply regulations to improve the condition of the water the nation drinks.
• Carrying out tests on food packaging, like microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, to trace the presence of PFAS and support future regulatory action.
• Publishing a new website to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of PFAS while also improving transparency of action being taken across government.
• Reducing emissions from industrial sites through new guidance for regulators and site operators on how to improve their handling, monitoring and disposal of PFAS.
• Improving the monitoring of PFAS in soils by supporting the British Geological Survey and initiating new sampling at five locations across England.
• Completing work to consider restrictions on the use of PFAS in firefighting foams.

You can read the press release here