France bans PFAS from consumer products

The main provisions concerning environmental protection are included in the very comprehensive French Environmental Code. Chapter IV of Title II of Book V deals with the prevention of risks resulting from exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Recently the French government adopted Law 2025-188 that supplements the requirements on certain products that contain PFAS.

Banned products

Per 1 January 2026

The production, import, export and marketing of the following PFAS-containing products are prohibited:

• Consumer textile clothing, footwear and waterproofing agents for these products.
• Cosmetic products.
• Wax products.

Per 1 January 2030

The ban is extended to all textile products containing PFAS.

PFAS Discharges

The same Law 2025-188 aims a progressive reduction of discharges of PFAS from industrial installations, ending these discharges into water within five years. A fee on manufacturers whose activities lead to PFAS discharge is introduced.

More details coming up

The following topics will addressed in more detail in upcoming decrees:

• Exceptions for textile clothing and footwear designed for the protection and safety of people, national defense or civil security missions.
• Exceptions for textile products for essential uses, national sovereignty and technical textiles for industrial use.
• The threshold concentration of acceptable residual values in products.
• The list of PFAS to which the discharge fee applies.