France Passes Bill to Restrict Harmful 'Forever Chemicals' in Consumer Products

The legislation bans PFAS in items like cosmetics and clothing starting January 2026, with exceptions for essential industrial uses.

France's National Assembly approved the bill with a vote of 231 to 51, following earlier Senate approval, but it still requires President Macron's signature to become law.
The ban targets per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals linked to severe health risks and environmental contamination due to their persistence in nature.
The law prohibits the production, import, and sale of PFAS-containing products where safer alternatives exist, including cosmetics, ski wax, and most clothing.
Drinking water will be subject to expanded testing for PFAS, building on EU regulations requiring checks for 20 types of these chemicals starting next year.
A proposed ban on non-stick cookware was removed from the bill after lobbying by manufacturers, though other PFAS uses in consumer goods remain restricted.