France Adopts New Law on PFAS: A Turning Point in Regulation?

A Major Step for Environmental Protection in France 🇫🇷

On February 20^th, 2025, the French National Assembly passed a groundbreaking law aimed at protecting the population from the risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” This decision follows a proposal introduced by Green Party MP Nicolas Thierry in early 2024, in response to growing environmental and public health concerns.

Key Measures of the French Law 📜

• Ban on PFAS starting in 2026 for cosmetics, ski wax, and textiles (excluding protective gear).
• Goal for 2030: Complete removal of PFAS from all textiles.
• Polluter-pays principle: Taxation of industrial PFAS emissions to curb contamination.
• Exceptions remain: Food packaging and kitchen utensils were excluded from the ban.

What About Other Countries? 🌍

Europe’s Approach 🇪🇺

Some European countries have already taken steps to limit PFAS use:

• Denmark 🇩🇰 introduced regulations in 2020 to phase out PFAS in food packaging.
• The Netherlands 🇳🇱 followed with similar measures in 2022.
• In 2024, the European Union adopted the Proposal for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), setting a PFAS limit for food packaging starting in 2026.

The United States: A Different Regulatory Landscape 🇺🇸

As highlighted by The Washington Post in its article “France just banned PFAS,” the French law starkly contrasts with U.S. regulations:

• In Europe, manufacturers must prove a product’s safety before it enters the market.
• In the United States, chemicals are presumed safe until proven harmful.

Despite the lack of sweeping federal regulation, individual states have taken action:

• In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set its first limits on six specific PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
• Some states, such as Maine, began banning certain PFAS products as early as 2021.
• In 2023, Minnesota passed the “Amara Law,” which aims to ban intentionally added PFAS by 2032, except for uses deemed “currently unavoidable.”

CASC4DE’s Commitment to PFAS Monitoring 🛡️

At CASC4DE, we closely follow these regulatory developments and contribute to a deeper understanding of PFAS pollution through fluorine NMR analysis. As global efforts intensify to limit PFAS contamination, we remain committed to providing cutting-edge insights into these persistent pollutants.