Starting January 1, 2026, France has officially enacted a historic ban on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known internationally as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, in consumer products for which alternatives already exist. This measure particularly affects cosmetics, clothing, footwear, and other consumer goods, and has been designed as a proactive response to the growing health and environmental risks posed by these substances.
PFAS are synthetic chemical compounds used since the mid-20th century for their non-stick, water-repellent, and stain-resistant properties, and are found in a wide variety of products, from cosmetics and textiles to cookware and ski waxes, due to these characteristics. However, their ability to persist for decades in the environment has led to global accumulation in soils, groundwater, food, and living organisms, which has prompted growing scientific and social concern.
Recent studies have linked chronic exposure to even low levels of PFAS with multiple health problems, including liver damage, cholesterol alterations, reduced immune function, low birth weight, and several types of cancer, reinforcing the urgency to act on these substances
The new legislation, approved by the French parliament in February 2025, prohibits the manufacture, import, and sale of products containing PFAS whenever an alternative is available, a key condition of the measure, and also includes reinforced controls on drinking water, which must now be periodically tested for any presence of PFAS.
Although the ban initially covers items such as cosmetics, clothing, and ski wax, various types of textiles and industrial applications will be included in a broader timeline extending to 2030. Exceptions provided for in the law allow the use of PFAS in essential technical clothing (e.g., for emergency services and defense) or in other specific contexts without viable alternatives.
The text of the law also incorporates the principle of "the polluter pays": companies that emit PFAS into the environment will have to face an environmental charge calculated per gram emitted, an initiative aimed at encouraging the reduction of discharges and financing decontamination measures.
This regulation places France at the forefront of environmental policies on PFAS, even as the European Union continues to work on a community-wide restriction that could cover thousands of variants of these compounds in the future.
The entry into force of this ban occurs in a context of growing social alarm over the presence of "forever chemicals" in bodies of water and food chains, as well as local initiatives, such as recent restrictions on drinking water consumption in some contaminated areas of the country, which have alerted to the need for more drastic and coordinated measures at the European level.