With the official passage of Bill No. 2025-188 by the French Parliament on February 27, 2025, France became the second European nation after Denmark to comprehensively control per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Over the next five years, these “forever chemicals,” which are well-known for their extraordinary environmental persistence and possible health hazards, will be gradually banned from all French markets. 

Legislative Context and Objectives

A class of extremely stable, non-biodegradable compounds known as PFAS is extensively utilized in consumer and industrial goods, such as electronics, food packaging, cosmetics, firefighting foams, and non-stick coatings. Exposure to PFAS has been connected in recent research to immune system dysfunction, endocrine disruption, and an increased risk of cancer. The French government has taken action to enact regulations safeguarding public health and environmental safety in response to the public’s growing concerns regarding PFAS contamination. 

Key Provisions and Measures

1. Product-Specific Bans
   Effective January 1, 2026:

• Prohibition on PFAS-containing cosmetics and ski wax production/sales

• Ban on PFAS-treated apparel, footwear, and waterproofing agents (exempting specialized protective equipment for military/firefighting use)

Effective January 1, 2030:

• Textile ban extended to industrial applications (excluding strategic materials and industrial textiles without viable alternatives)

2. Enhanced Drinking Water Monitoring

• Mandatory PFAS testing in tap water supplies

• Regular publication of nationwide PFAS monitoring reports

3. Corporate Emission Regulations

• Enterprises emitting ≥100 grams of PFAS annually will face environmental taxes at €100 per 100 grams

France is a trailblazer in proactive environmental policy, as evidenced by its prohibition on PFAS. France’s trailblazing action may hasten European chemical regulation reforms as the EU examines bloc-wide PFAS limits. The global chemical sector faces revolutionary hurdles in creating safer substitutes and adjusting to changing regulatory environments when the first bans go into force in 2026. 

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