On 4 April 2024, following a proposal by Nicolas Thierry, the “Les Ecologistes” MP for Gironde, the National Assembly voted on first reading to ban PFASs, particularly in cosmetic products, from 1 January 2026. The text must now continue its legislative journey through the Senate.
The text, entitled “Bill to protect the public from the risks associated with perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances”, provides, in Article 1, for a ban on the manufacture, import, export and placing on the market, whether in return for payment or free of charge, of several types of products containing these substances, including cosmetic products.
After negotiations, the deadline for the implementation of this measure was set at 1 January 2026.
The text adopted also introduces a “polluter pays” principle, so that companies discharging these substances into the environment will finance the clean-up via a fee paid to the water agencies.
The bill has therefore passed its first reading in the French National Assembly, which means that it now has to go before the Senate, where it could be amended before it is eventually finally adopted.
It also comes at the same time as the proposed restriction initiated at European level on 7 February 2023.
To go further
• See the legislative dossier “Protéger la population des risques liés aux substances per- et polyfluoroalkylées (PFAS)”, ont the National Assembly website
