There have been no major UK REACH announcements overnight, but the next significant milestone remains the expected consultation on restricting PFAS in firefighting foams under the UK REACH 2025–26 work programme. The Government’s strategy continues to emphasise targeted, evidence-based regulation while reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity.
Source: GOV.UK — Authorisation decisions: UK REACH
Why firefighting foams specifically
Firefighting foams are one of the most concentrated historical uses of PFAS in the UK, particularly older AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) formulations used across industrial sites, airports, defence establishments and fire services. It’s a well-understood, high-exposure use case with established alternatives already in use in parts of the sector — which is exactly the kind of targeted, evidence-based restriction the Government’s current approach favours over broader, less specific PFAS controls.
A formal consultation hasn’t opened yet, but it remains the clearest, most concrete next step in the UK’s PFAS work programme, and businesses that hold, use or supply firefighting foam should treat it as a “when,” not “if.”
What this means for you
- Complete PFAS inventories — including foam stocks, not just product formulations.
- Identify firefighting foam use and alternatives across your sites, and understand what a transition away from PFAS-based foam would actually involve operationally.
- Update supplier declarations so you have a current, accurate position on PFAS content before anyone asks for it.
- Review Article 33 and authorisation obligations now, before any consultation opens and the window to prepare narrows.
Prepare now rather than react later
That’s the strongest commercial message here. Consultations move fast once they open, and the businesses that come through them with the least disruption are the ones that already know their PFAS position, have identified alternatives, and aren’t starting that conversation from zero.
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