After an interruption due to recent events in French politics, the legislative process for the law banning PFAS, particularly in cosmetics, has resumed its course. And on 20 February 2025, the French National Assembly definitively adopted the law.
With 231 votes “in favour” and 51 “against”, the law “aimed at protecting the population from the risks associated with perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances” was passed in the same terms as those adopted by the Senate in May 2024, all the amendments tabled having been rejected.
The text therefore provides for a ban, from 1 January 2026, on the manufacture, import, export and placing on the market, whether in return for payment or free of charge, of three families of products containing perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances: cosmetics, ski waxes and clothing textiles, including footwear.
However, this ban does not apply to products containing these substances in concentrations less than or equal to a residual value, to be defined at a later date by decree.
The text also provides for health checks on the quality of drinking water and the treatment of water intended for human consumption, as well as the drawing up of a map of sites that have emitted or are emitting PFAS, which will be made available to the public.
Facilities whose activities result in the discharge of PFAS into water, either directly or via a collection network, will be required to pay a fee …
