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PFAS terms of reference

Published 16 September 2025

漏 Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at /government/publications/cot-subgroup-terms-of-references/pfas-terms-of-reference

Following publication of the COT interim position statement on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a COT subgroup has been set up to undertake the Committee鈥檚 own consideration of the evidence base and risk assessment of these substances.

Please note this page is currently under construction.听

1. Aims

The aim of the subgroup is to review the evidence to support human health risk assessment of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by UK Government Departments and Agencies in the context of existing and legacy exposure through food, drinking water and the environment.

2. Background

罢丑别听COT听has considered PFAS on a number of previous occasions, and in 2022 published a statement:听听听on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion in which the scientific basis of the new听EFSA听tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for the sum of four PFAS was reviewed. The Committee has subsequently been asked to consider what further guidance can be provided to support human health risk assessments undertaken by UK Government Departments and Agencies.

In 2023, the听COT听published an interim position:听听and this subgroup was set up to undertake the consideration.

3. Terms of Reference

COT听PFAS subgroup Terms of Reference 鈥� first draft

To provide guidance to UK Government Departments and Agencies to support听human health risk assessments of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) where exposures to existing and legacy PFAS is occurring through food, drinking听water and other environmental media. This will include:听

  • Undertaking an independent review of toxicological and epidemiological data,听focusing on a number of critical endpoints, and considering the biological听relevance of the endpoints assessed.
  • Considering the toxicokinetics of PFAS.
  • Determining whether different PFAS can be grouped for assessment and how听this can be done.
  • Deriving a HBGV or a number of HBGVs as the data allow.

The subgroup will endeavour to follow the guidance from the Joint听COT听and COC听Synthesis and Integration of Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence (SETE)听subgroup in undertaking this assessment.听

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