Interest groups demand that the State provide more protection against the effects of PFAS on the environment and health. In April 2024, Knoops lawyers filed a summons against the State of the Netherlands on behalf of the interest groups.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has asked RIVM to assist in gathering scientific facts and knowledge about the effects of PFAS on the environment and health. RIVM has responded to the Ministrys questions with public, existing knowledge about PFAS.
The States response to the summons was submitted to the Court on July 22, 2025, along with documents from RIVM. The following documents were provided by RIVM to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management:
- RIVM Fact Check Summons: “SUMMONS EX ART. 3:305a BW by Knoops lawyers”
PFAS experts from RIVM have assessed the scientific basis of facts and claims in the original summons (external link) for factual accuracy. In an interim ruling by the court (May 2025), several claimants were declared inadmissible. As a result, some claims from the original summons have lapsed. At the bottom of this message are web links to the original summons, the interim ruling of the court, and the claimants response to the ruling and continuation of the lawsuit.
- RIVM Fact Check “Production 15: “Scientific information on the occurrence, behavior, and effects on humans and the environment of PFAS”
The summons refers to the report “Production 15” with technical substantive information supporting the accusation. PFAS experts from RIVM have assessed the scientific basis of facts and claims in “Production 15” for factual accuracy.
- Overview List of RIVM Publications on PFAS
This Excel file contains a chronological overview of the publications, news items, and articles from RIVM regarding PFAS from 1997 to May 2024.
- Overview List of PFAS classified as ZZS and SVHC
This Excel file contains an overview list of when which PFAS were classified as ZZS (Substances of Very High Concern), and when they were classified as SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern). For more information about ZZS and SVHC: Identification of Very High Concern Substances | Risks of Substances (external link).
- Presentation “Changing Picture of Risks of PFAS Due to Developments in Analytical Methods and Knowledge about PFAS Properties”,
as an explanation to the State Attorney following the technical and scientific information provided by RIVM in the aforementioned documents.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is the contact point for any questions regarding this lawsuit.
Information about the lawsuit:
- Original summons
20240423-DEFINITIEVE-DAGVAARDING-PFAS.pdf (external link) - Ruling of the court on the collective action:
https://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2025:3488 (external link) - The claimants response to the ruling and continuation of the lawsuit:
http://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2025:9162 (external link)