UK PFAS plan opts for research over regulatory crackdown

By Vanessa Zainzinger | C&EN | February 4, 2026

Read the full article by Vanessa Zainzinger (C&EN)

"A UK government action plan on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), released Feb. 3, sets out a softer approach to managing the persistent chemicals than other European countries and opts for extensive monitoring projects rather than immediate regulatory action.

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) plan says that the agency has a “long-term vision” for a “science-based and proportionate” approach to managing PFAS, with an initial focus on studying their sources and effects.

The plan foresees a series of monitoring and research projects to assess the presence of PFAS in land and water—including legacy pollution—and in food packaging. Defra says it will assess the full extent of PFAS in England’s estuaries and coastal waters for the first time, which will provide it with a “stronger evidence base in which to consider future regulatory action.”