Following publication of the UK Government's PFAS Plan (see here), colleagues have produced a summary of the key actions and next steps for BRC members.
For the food community, members should be aware of the below implications for food and FCMs:
- Increased scrutiny on PFAS use and use of safe alternatives where they exist
- Increased testing and monitoring, particularly those considered high-risk
- Potential new controls under UK Reach. It should be noted that progress is influenced by ongoing UK-EU SPS negotiations.
- Pressure for transparency, given the increased consumer-accessible PFAS information
More detail of the key outcomes and indicative actions related to food and FCMs is shared below:
1. PFAS Monitoring and Testing: The Food Standards Agency (FSA), with the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), is expanding and validating PFAS testing across food and FCMs. PFAS testing methods already exist for some foods (fish, shellfish, meat, milk, eggs), and validation for additional PFAS and food types is ongoing. Testing capability is being strengthened to support future regulatory measures.
2. Active Assessment for PFAS in FCMs: PFAS have traditionally been used to make packaging grease‑, oil‑ or water‑resistant, such as fast‑food wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and certain paper-based containers. Initial UK sampling found negligible PFAS presence in some types of takeaway packaging, but monitoring continues. There is emphasis of expanding data collection to inform risk assessments and potential regulatory measures.
3. Broader Lifecycle Approach Includes Packaging Waste: Includes actions relevant to the waste phase of food packaging.
We continue to engage with the FSA and Defra on all PFAS developments and will keep members updated via the Emerging Risks and Labelling & Legislation Working Groups.
