On December 30, 2025, the French government officially enacted Decree No. 2025-1376, specifying the implementation rules for the comprehensive prohibition of the manufacture, import, and sale of specific consumer products (cosmetics, wax, textiles, footwear, and waterproofing agents) containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) effective from January 1, 2026. This regulation aims to implement Decree No. 2025-188, adopted on February 27, 2025, which seeks to protect the public from PFAS-related risks. This marks a crucial step in France's efforts to regulate "forever chemicals" and represents one of the most stringent legislative practices in this field globally.
Effective and transitional period dates:
The regulation stipulates that it will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and at the same time, it provides for a 12-month inventory sales transition period, during which products produced before January 1, 2026 can continue to be sold or exported until December 31, 2026.
definition:
Perfluorinated and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Refers to any substance containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (- CF2-) carbon atom, without hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atoms attached to that atom.
Control products:
According to Article L. 524-1, Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Code: Starting from January 1, 2026, it is prohibited to produce, import, export, and place in the following markets, whether paid or unpaid:
1. Any cosmetics containing PFAS;
2. Any wax product containing PFAS;
3. Any consumer oriented clothing, textiles, footwear, and waterproof treatment agents containing PFAS.
According to Article L. 524-1, Paragraph 2 of the Environmental Code, starting from January 1, 2030, it is prohibited to produce, import, export, and release any textile products containing PFAS, whether paid or unpaid, on the market.
Exemption Product List:
The products subject to the exceptions specified in Article L. 524-1, Paragraph 1, Item 3 include:
1. Personal protective equipment within the scope of Regulation (EU) No. 2016/425, as well as personal protective equipment and combat equipment used for armed forces, domestic security, and civil defense;
2. Waterproof treatment agent used for re waterproofing personal protective equipment as described in item 1;
3. Clothing, textiles, and footwear that contain at least 20% recycled materials from post consumer waste. The presence of PFAS in the finished product is limited to the recycled material portion, so the allowable residual amount of PFAS in the finished product is proportional to the proportion of recycled materials added.
The products subject to the exception specified in Article L. 524-1, paragraph 2 include:
1. Technical textiles for industrial use;
If there are no alternative use options for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the following products may be exempted:
i. Personal protective equipment within the scope of EU Regulation 2016/425;
Ii. Personal protective equipment for armed forces, domestic security, and civil defense;
Iii. Equipment present in combat systems, as well as equipment used for operations under nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical threats;
Iv. Sanitary textiles used for medical purposes, including products for medical care as described in Article R. 543-360 (3) (5) of the Environmental Code;
3. Clothing, textiles, and footwear that contain at least 20% recycled materials from post consumer waste. The presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the finished product is limited to the recycled material portion, so the allowable residual amount of PFAS in the finished product is proportional to the proportion of recycled materials added.
Residual limit:
For any PFAS (excluding polymers) measured through targeted analysis, the threshold is set at 25 ppb;
For the total amount of PFAS measured by PFAS targeted analysis (which may include pre degradation of precursor substances), the threshold is set at 250 ppb (excluding polymers);
For PFAS, including polymers, the threshold is set at 50 ppm. If the total fluoride measurement value exceeds 50 mg F/kg, manufacturers, importers, exporters, or market participants shall provide proof of whether the fluoride content comes from PFAS substances or non PFAS substances upon request by the competent authority.
If there are any revisions to the technical regulations implemented in accordance with European Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 or (EU) No 2019/1021, these values will be adjusted accordingly.
