UK Releases National PFAS Strategy for 2026

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.

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The Three-Pillar Strategy

Section 1: Understanding PFAS sources

Key Actions	Expected Outcomes
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.
Coastal Environment Assessment	Complete a comprehensive multi-year assessment of PFAS pollution in England's estuaries and coastal environments by February 2028.
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
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.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)	Implement Stockholm Convention obligations, restricting Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs) by end of 2026.	End of 2026.
Greenhouse Gas Management	Continue enforcing current F-gas regulations; explore legislative reforms for strengthening them during 2026-2027.	Ongoing.
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.
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.
Waste Management	Improve PFAS waste management pathways; research landfill leachate and destruction technologies; enforce POPs waste controls.	Technical guidance published in 2026-2027.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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