On February 3, 2026， the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the PFAS Plan: Building a Safer Future Together. This plan outlines a three-pillar strategy aimed at balancing the societal benefits of these essential industrial chemicals with their potential risks to the environment and public health.
The Three-Pillar Strategy
Section 1: Understanding PFAS sources
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Key Actions |
Expected Outcomes |
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Expand Monitoring Network |
England to maintain 2,400 samples annually; Scotland to increase sampling sites from 300 to 500; Wales to expand surface water monitoring from 600 to 850 samples. |
|
Data Visualisation Tools |
Publish the Environment Agency's PFAS multi-criteria GIS priority map by the end of 2026; develop an interactive website by Q3 2027. |
|
Soil Monitoring |
Conduct pilot soil sampling at a minimum of 5 representative sites during 2026-2027. |
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Coastal Environment Assessment |
Complete a comprehensive multi-year assessment of PFAS pollution in England's estuaries and coastal environments by February 2028. |
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Ecotoxicity Research |
Conduct research on the impacts of PFAS on ecosystems and wildlife health to fill knowledge gaps. |
Section 2: Tackling PFAS pathways
|
Action Area |
Specific Measures |
Timeline |
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Chemical Regulation |
Complete UK REACH restriction process for PFAS in firefighting foams; reform UK REACH to accelerate protection from chemical pollution. |
Restriction decision in 2027; reform completed by December 2028. |
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Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
Implement Stockholm Convention obligations, restricting Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs) by end of 2026. |
End of 2026. |
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Greenhouse Gas Management |
Continue enforcing current F-gas regulations; explore legislative reforms for strengthening them during 2026-2027. |
Ongoing. |
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International Cooperation |
Advocate for PFAS as a priority in global chemical frameworks; engage in PFAS work at OECD and UN levels. |
Decision at the inaugural GFC conference in November 2026. |
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Industry Guidance |
Develop cross-sector guidance requiring transparent disclosure of PFAS use and emissions to regulators; review environmental permits. |
Coordinated action across the four UK administrations in 2026. |
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Waste Management |
Improve PFAS waste management pathways; research landfill leachate and destruction technologies; enforce POPs waste controls. |
Technical guidance published in 2026-2027. |
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Alternatives Innovation |
Promote safer PFAS alternatives via the Chemicals Innovation Forum; establish practice communities for industry and researchers. |
Collaborative innovation events held in 2026-2027. |
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Government Procurement |
Incorporate PFAS into government buying standards; review DfE school uniform procurement guidance; MoD tenders to require supplier PFAS disclosure. |
Reviews commencing in 2026. |
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Public Transparency |
Launch a government PFAS information webpage by end of 2026; include PFAS information on the "Chemicals and human health risks" website. |
End of 2026. |
Section 3: Reducing ongoing exposure
|
Action Area |
Specific Measures |
Timeline |
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Health Risk Assessment |
UK Health Security Agency to complete an evidence review on PFAS to support human health risk assessment. |
Rapid evidence review published in early 2026. |
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Food Contact Materials |
Strengthen PFAS testing capacity, prioritizing high-risk materials; continue monitoring food and food contact materials. |
Dependent on outcome of UK-EU SPS negotiations in 2026. |
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Drinking Water Safety |
Explore collecting PFAS risk data for bottled water; consult in 2026 on statutory limits for PFAS in public water supply regulations for England. |
Consultation in 2026. |
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Water Quality Standards |
Publish Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNECs) for some PFAS; consider developing Environmental Quality Standards (EQS). |
Some PNECs to be published in 2026. |
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Wastewater Treatment |
Progress Chemical Investigation Programme Phase 4 (CIP4), with results in 2027; consult in early 2026 on reforms for agricultural sludge use. |
CIP5 to launch in 2030. |
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Contaminated Land Management |
Develop a PFAS risk prioritisation framework; provide updated guidance for local councils on managing PFAS-contaminated land; publish technical guidance on legacy contamination by 2027. |
2026-2027. |
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Consumer Product Restrictions |
Consider restrictions on PFAS in consumer products under UK REACH; hold an inter-ministerial roundtable in early 2026 to discuss PFAS risks in products (e.g., menstrual products). |
Early 2026. |
This plan will undergo statutory scrutiny as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan. The UK government stated that this is only the first step towards a long-term vision, and subsequent actions will be continuously refined through extensive consultation with industry, environmental groups, and the public.
