The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has submitted evidence to a Parliamentary committee’s inquiry on chemicals.
In its submission to the Environment Audit Committee’s inquiry into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) the OEP points out that a lack of statutory limits and targets, a lack of accessible data, a lack of monitoring for chemicals of concern, a lack of strategy and slow progress on regulatory decisions in the UK is limiting regulators’ ability to control harmful chemical pollution in the UK.
Dame Glenys Stacey, OEP Chair, said: “The persistence, the extreme longevity prior to breaking down, of PFAS, means they can build up in the environment to reach harmful levels. The use and regulation of PFAS are a matter of health and environmental concern in the UK and beyond.
“Our submission focuses on the regulation of PFAS and the duties and capabilities of regulators, other public authorities and government in protecting the environment from the harmful use or release of PFAS and resulting chemical pollution.”
The OEP submission highlights the importance of:
- ensuring there is a coherent approach to PFAS across their life cycle, including in the implementation of UK REACH, GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging, Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (WFD Regulations) filling gaps in monitoring new and emerging substances of concern, for example in relation to the ‘Watch List’ mechanism under the WFD Regulations
- consideration of the precautionary principle, alongside other environmental principles covered by the Environmental Principles Policy Statement, in the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for PFAS and other chemicals
- clarifying the government’s direction and ambition in tackling PFAS use and pollution in forthcoming strategies and plans such as the Environmental Improvement Plan Review.
The full submission can be downloaded via the blue button to the right of this page. The EAC committee has published all the evidence submitted here: Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - Written evidence - Committees - UK Parliament
