Reference source : DCCEEW (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water)
Australia New Zealand PFAS Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) Site Remediation Risk assessment Drinking Water Guidelines Waste Management
On 16 June 2026, Australia published Version 3.1 of the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (PFAS NEMP). Developed by the Heads of EPA Australia and New Zealand (HEPA), the PFAS NEMP provides nationally agreed guidance on the environmental management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and offers a comprehensive framework for managing PFAS contamination across Australia and New Zealand.
Comprehensive Framework for PFAS Management
The PFAS NEMP covers a broad range of topics related to PFAS management, such as environmental monitoring, site investigation and prioritisation, human health and ecological risk assessment, environmental guideline values, remediation, reuse of contaminated materials, landfill disposal, wastewater treatment, sampling, analytical methods and the long-term management of contaminated sites. It is intended to support nationally consistent approaches by environmental regulators and other stakeholders.
Version 3.1 Reflects Updated Guideline Values
Version 3.1 incorporates the revised Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) for PFAS, which were published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in June 2025. It also incorporates the updated Australian and New Zealand guideline values for PFOS in freshwater and marine water, which were released in March 2026. The document confirms that the guideline values for PFOA remain unchanged. It also clarifies that the updated ADWG values should be applied when assessing exposure to drinking water, while the current Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) tolerable daily intake values should continue to be used for risk assessments of exposure through other pathways. Supporting and ancillary documents published with Version 3.0 remain unchanged.
Actions
Companies involved in PFAS site assessment, remediation, waste management and environmental compliance in Australia should review Version 3.1 of the PFAS NEMP and assess whether ongoing investigations and risk assessments should be updated to reflect the revised guidance.
The complete PFAS National Environmental Management Plan Version 3.1 can be accessed here.
