MPs on the House of Commons Environment Audit Committee will hear from UK PFAS manufacturers on safeguards against contamination in a live evidence session starting at 14.30pm this afternoon.
The evidence session exploring the manufacture and remediation of PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” forms part of the EAC’s ongoing inquiry into the regulation of PFAS.
PFAS (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances) is a chemical family consisting of at least 5,000 individual substances which are sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because of their persistence in the environment.
The Committee is investigating what potential risks PFAS pose in the UK and whether current regulations around the use and disposal of the chemicals are strong enough.
While other countries have put restrictions on PFAS concentrations in drinking water and the European Union is in the process of adopting a standard of 0.1 micrograms per litre for 20 individual substances, there are currently no statutory standards for PFAS in drinking water England and Wales,
In March 2025, the Drinking Water Inspectorate published updated guidance for PFAS in drinking water requiring water companies in England and Wales to monitor for a wider range of PFAS and update their risk assessments accordingly.
MPs will ask witnesses – including two UK-based PFAS manufacturers – what risks the chemicals pose to the environment and to human health, what safeguards should be in place, and how manufacturers can help to address potential PFAS contamination.
The Committee will also explore what options are available to remediate end-of-life PFAS, including nature-based solutions, and who should take responsibility for remediation.
Witnesses appearing before the Committee from 14.30pm onwards are as follows:
From 14.30:
- Stephanie Metzger, Policy Advisor (Sustainable Chemicals), Royal Society of Chemistry
- Dr Andy Joel, Technical Support Chemist, F2 Chemicals
- Stuart Ede, Head of Sustainability, AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd.
From 15.30:
- Professor Luisa Orsini, Professor of Evolutionary Systems Biology and Environmental Omics at the University of Birmingham, Co-founder and CEO of Daphne Water Solutions Limited
- Duncan Sanders, Director for England, ATG Group
- Dr Andrew Schwarz, Chief Business Officer, Fluorok
Click here to watch the live evidence session starting at 14.30pm on Parliamentlive.tv
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