PFAS in firefighting foam (FFF) restriction proposal

Overview

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the Agency for UK REACH, has assessed the risks linked with using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams (FFF). This work was carried out at the request of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with the agreement of the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

The assessment and a proposed restriction are set out in a detailed document called an ‘Annex 15’ report. The report examines the risks PFAS in FFF may pose to human health and the environment and suggests measures to reduce those risks.

We are now inviting comments on the proposed restriction on the placing on the market and use of PFAS in FFF, along with any relevant evidence or information you can provide.

Purpose

This consultation gives interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed restriction and the assessments in the Annex 15 report.

Comments, supported by evidence and relevant information will help inform the next stage of the UK REACH restriction process (the opinion-forming stage). This will help ensure that any regulatory action suggested in the next stage is proportionate, evidence-based and effective.

Who should respond and how

We welcome responses from all stakeholders, including industry representatives, NGOs, researchers, and the public.

Please read the Annex 15 report and provide your comments on its content and the proposed restrictions. Where possible, please support your responses with references and reliable data.

Confidentiality and data protection  

HSE makes every effort to make its public consultation process as thorough and transparent as possible.

Information submitted in response to the dossier may be subject to publication or disclosure under access to information laws. These include:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
• the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)
• the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

Statutory Codes of Practice under FOIA and EIR also set out how confidentiality should be handled.

If you would like us to treat any of the information you provide as confidential, please make this clear in your response and explain why. We will consider your explanation if we receive a disclosure request, but we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. Please think carefully about the information you include before submitting it.

Please note:

• Any automatic confidentiality disclaimers in email footers or generated by your IT systems will be disregarded
• Requests for confidentiality must be clearly stated within the body of your response

HSE will handle all personal data in line with the UK GDPR. This means personal data will not normally be shared with third parties and will only be disclosed where the law allows.

To help us protect your privacy, please do not include personal data or personally identifiable information in your response.

By submitting a response, you agree that any data provided may be shared with:

• the Environment Agency (as required under Article 2B)
• independent scientific advisers
• the appropriate authorities (i.e., Defra, the Welsh and Scottish Governments)

You will be asked separately to consent to the sharing of any personal data with the Environment Agency.

How to submit your response

You can provide your comments in two ways:

• Basic information can be entered directly in the ‘comments’ fields
• More detailed information should be uploaded as documents at the end of this survey
  Guidance will be provided on areas to you may wish to address in your response

When submitting confidential information, please help us by uploading:

• A non-confidential (‘public’) version of your response
• A confidential version, clearly marked

Both confidential and non-confidential information will be considered when forming the restriction opinion. We will respect confidentiality when publishing the final opinion and associated documents.

Please include as much information and supporting evidence as you can.

If you need help providing your comments, please provide what information you are able to and tick the option to indicate that you are willing to be contacted by HSE for further support.

The public consultation will remain open for six months and closes at 23:59 London time on 18 February 2026.

HSE has produced a short Q&A document about PFAS and the proposed restriction on PFAS in FFF, this document also covers more technical questions about the Annex 15 report.