In February 2026, the UK Government published its first-ever PFAS Plan, titled "Building a Safer Future Together." Announced by Emma Hardy, Minister for Water and Flooding, it marks a major step in addressing the risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals."
For analytical laboratories, environmental testing facilities, and anyone involved in chromatography, this plan has significant implications. Increased monitoring, tighter regulations, and expanded research all point to growing demand for precise PFAS detection and quantification.
PFAS are a family of thousands of man-made chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. They're found in everyday products including cookware, clothing, food packaging, firefighting foams, and even medical devices.
The problem? Once released into the environment, PFAS don't break down naturally. They persist in water, soils, and wildlife indefinitely, earning them the name "forever chemicals." Growing evidence links certain PFAS to adverse health effects, making their management a public health priority.
The plan is cross-government and science-led, structured around three core pillars:
The plan builds on the revised Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 and works alongside UK REACH regulations, which have already proposed restrictions on PFAS in firefighting foams. The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 formalise some of these controls in law.
PFAS analysis is one of the fastest-growing segments in environmental testing, and chromatography sits at the heart of it. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the gold standard for detecting PFAS at the ultra-trace levels required by regulators.
With the UK Government committing to expanded monitoring programmes across water supplies, soils, and biota, laboratories will face increased demand for:
Even standard laboratory consumables can be a source of PFAS contamination. Chromatography vials, filter papers, PTFE components, and bottle-top filters all require careful selection to ensure they don't introduce interference into analyses.
The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE), acting as the Agency for UK REACH, has already assessed risks from PFAS in firefighting foams and proposed restrictions. The Environmental Audit Committee has published its own parliamentary report on PFAS risks, pushing the Government towards faster, more comprehensive action.
Meanwhile, the EU has implemented its own PFAS restriction in firefighting foams under EU REACH, which applies in Northern Ireland via the Windsor Framework. Laboratories serving cross-border supply chains will need to navigate both regulatory frameworks.
We supply a comprehensive range of chromatography consumables suited to PFAS analysis, from certified PFAS-free vials and caps to high-quality syringe filters and sample preparation products. Whether you're scaling up an existing PFAS testing service or building capability from scratch, we can help you source the right products to meet regulatory standards without compromising your results.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your PFAS analysis requirements, or browse our range of vials, filters, and sample preparation products online.