Environmental lawyers denounce obstructive lobbying on PFAS and warn of legal risks

The Forever Lobbying Project investigation has revealed the staggering scale of lobbying against an EU-wide PFAS ban.

Reacting to the revelations, ClientEarth legal expert Hélène Duguy said:

“This investigation reveals the astonishing lengths to which lobbyists will go to counter common-sense regulations. It’s even more astonishing given the legal restrictions in place in the EU: from a legal point of view, lobbying must be transparent and not obstruct EU process. But in the context of PFAS it seems that in practice, the opposite is true. Aggressive and potentially misleading lobbying has become so rampant it’s now unstoppable and threatens the policies on the table.

“ClientEarth is closely monitoring companies’ conduct on PFAS. Despite their efforts to delay and weaken the much-needed PFAS ban, companies have to see the writing on the wall. Regulatory changes are coming in the EU and elsewhere, and PFAS lawsuits are on the rise around the world. Put simply, continued PFAS production creates more risks for companies than it does benefits. Smart company boards should already be implementing a managed and timely phase out of unnecessary and harmful PFAS.”