France passes law to ban PFAS from 2026

The French National Assembly has passed a law that bans the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in many products from 2026, making it the second European country to announce such a plan. The law also puts the cost of cleaning and destroying PFAS on the polluter rather than water utilities.

The law was backed by a petition from French citizens and passed by a vote of 231 to 51. The law had already passed its first reading in the National Assembly and also the Senate.

Ban proposed by Green MP finds wide backing

The ban was first proposed in 2024 by the Green MP Nicolas Thierry. His proposal included an almost total ban on PFAS use, except in exceptional circumstances, such as for the protective clothing worn by firefighters.

However, although the new law covers a wide range of products including cosmetics and waterproof clothing, some products that were in the original proposal ─ cookware ─ have been given an exemption.

Under the law, a ban on the manufacture, import, export, and marketing of cosmetics, footwear, consumer textiles, and ski wax containing PFAS will become effective from January 1, 2026. The next stage will happen in 2030 when all textiles containing the substances, except for protective clothing, will be banned.

Speaking to Le Monde, Thierry said: "In a relatively short space of time, two and a half years, thanks to the mobilisation of members of parliament, NGOs, scientists and investigative journalists, a subject that was under the radar has made its way into the public debate, to the point where France now has one of the world's most ambitious laws on PFAS."

Increased monitoring and pollution fines

The bill that passed in the French National Assembly contained three parts that are designed to limit the French population to the damaging effects of PFAS exposure. The first, as mentioned above, is the ban on manufacture, import, export and marketing of certain materials or products that contain PFAS.

Second, the French government will need to plan for the mandatory control of PFAS in drinking water and to end the release of the chemicals into water by 2030. This measure goes beyond current EU legislation which requires water to be analysed for 20 PFAS chemicals. One chemical under particular scrutiny is the ultra-short chain trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which has been found in large numbers in drinking water.

The results of the analyses must be communicated once a year, in an accessible format, for French citizens to access, in a bid to improve transparency over PFAS exposure.

The third aspect of the bill places the cost of removing PFAS from the environment on the manufacturer that creates the pollution. This 'polluters tax' will be set at €100 per 100 grams of discarded PFAS.

According to Nicolas Thierry, "This will represent about €10 million euros per year." The proceeds will be distributed to help upgrade water treatment systems in the municipalities in most need of funding.

Writing on its LinkedIn feed, French utility Veolia welcomed the law, stating: "This bill encourages us, collectively, manufacturers and environmental actors, to rethink our processes and to act even more upstream to prevent pollution."

Calls for EU-wide ban on PFAS

There have been increasing calls for the European Union (EU) to take stronger action against PFAS pollution. EurEau, the European federation of national associations of water services has previously called on the EU to take greater action on tackling the problems posed by continued use of PFAS. The federation believes a ban is essential to prevent further contamination and to 'ensure the availability of safe, affordable water for all'.

Sandra Bell, CHEM Trust's PFAS advisor, writing on the organisation's website, said: "This ban on PFAS in products like clothing and cosmetics is great news for French citizens worried about their exposure to these harmful chemicals. The not so good news is that some key products like cookware were exempted. Now France needs to get firmly behind an EU wide restriction on PFAS ensuring more products are included and citizens of all member states are protected".

Now France needs to get firmly behind an EU wide restriction on PFAS

While any EU legislation would override French law, and include industrial as well as consumer manufacturing, there is unlikely to be a full ban in place until at least 2030.

Talking to media about the need for further action, Hélène Duguy, legal expert of environmental charity ClientEarth, said: "This law has undeniable shortcomings. Nonetheless, France is one of the first countries to act on what is both a public health and an environmental crisis and it should be applauded."

She added: "PFAS pollution has reached a critical point and common-sense restrictions are overdue. The weight of scientific evidence on the harms of PFAS is now overwhelming. Alternatives exist and it's imperative for top officials in Brussels and other countries to stop kicking the can down the road. We need sweeping restrictions on PFAS for consumer and industrial uses now."

Denmark's PFAS prevention and clean-up plan

France joins Denmark in banning PFAS use in certain products ─ paper and cardboard food packaging, with a ban on the sale and import of consumer clothing, footwear, and waterproof materials from July 2026.

At the time of the ban, Denmark's environment minister, told media: "With this action plan, we take an important step forward in handling and reducing PFAS in our environment and daily lives. It is crucial for Danes to feel safe when putting rain gear on their children, drinking tap water, and eating homegrown potatoes. Therefore, three major efforts in the action plan involve banning PFAS in clothing and shoes, PFAS in soil, and drinking water. And Denmark will now take the lead in the EU by banning PFAS in clothing, shoes, and consumer impregnation products."

Denmark is also implementing other measures, including:

• Stronger monitoring of PFAS in water, food, and food-producing animals
• Increasing public awareness
• Funding water and soil clean up processes
• Advocating for an EU-wide ban