The PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) provides a framework for the environmental regulation of PFAS-contaminated materials and sites that is:

  • consistent
  • practical
  • risk-based. 

As agreed by the Heads of EPA Australia and New Zealand (HEPA), the PFAS NEMP:

  • represents the state of knowledge
  • defines nationally consistent standards for managing environmental contamination.

It has been developed as an adaptive plan and is regularly updated in response to emerging research and knowledge.

Download the PFAS NEMP

History of the PFAS NEMP

Drafting version 1.0 of the plan began at the Environmental Regulators PFAS summit in Melbourne on 4–5 April 2017. This session was hosted by EPA Victoria, on behalf of EPAs Australia and New Zealand, and the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy.

The summit, which attracted more than 100 participants, involved regulators from all Australian jurisdictions and national and international experts on the environmental regulation of PFAS.

Version 2.0 of the PFAS NEMP was published in January 2020.

Our collective understanding of PFAS is constantly improving. Version 3.0 of the draft PFAS NEMP was made available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website and closed for public consultation on 28 February 2023.

To support Victorians in making a submission, EPA Victoria held a series of community and industry information sessions in February 2023. These sessions outlined how the PFAS NEMP 3.0 may be implemented in Victoria and how it may inform EPA’s regulatory decision making.

For updates on the PFAS NEMP 3.0 please visit the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

Reviewed 31 October 2023