Oceanic Chemical Pollution

Given the central importance of our oceans in combating the climate crisis, it is critical that UK waters and the species that live there are properly protected.

I know that polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used for a wide variety of purposes, and that the scourge of plastic waste can end up polluting our oceans.

The Government pledged in 2018 to publish a Chemicals Strategy as part of its 25-Year Environment Plan. It has recently said that it has no publication date for the Strategy. I am concerned about the delay to this Strategy and will follow developments on it.

The Government has said it is working to improve its understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK and how best to manage any such identified risks. It has said it will consider how these chemicals are managed in this Chemicals Strategy.

It added that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) also regularly reviews new PFAS and previously said it would consider work by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) of the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) latest scientific opinion on PFAS in food. The COT has recently published initial papers on a further review of PFAS.

More widely, I am concerned the Government has not indicated an intention to seek close cooperation with the European Chemicals Agency, and that regulatory divergence could have a severe impact on the quality and strength of public health and environmental protections. We should be levelling up, not cutting ties.