Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of over 10,000 highly persistent synthetic chemicals often called ‘forever chemicals’, because they do not break down easily in the environment. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked to numerous adverse health impacts, such as the promotion of certain cancers, disruption of the immune system and reduced fertility.

A law to ban PFAS was originally proposed in 2024 by French Green MP Nicolas Thierry. Despite facing some opposition from the far-right and intense industry lobbying, more than 140,000 French citizens called on their MPs to back the bill. The law was ultimately supported by the majority of members of the French Parliament, voting 231-51 in favor.

Photo by Anderson Guerra: PFAS are used in countless industrial and consumer applications.

The new bill will outlaw the manufacture, import, and sale of items containing PFAS, targeting certain textiles from 1 January 2026, with a broader prohibition encompassing all textiles by 2030. However, cookware was exempted following industry pressure, despite alternatives being readily available, and protective clothing has also been omitted. The bill has additionally added PFAS to the list of substances monitored in drinking water in France and companies will now face a fee of €100 (£83) per 100 kg of PFAS emitted into the environment.

France is the second EU country, alongside Denmark, to act on restricting PFAS. An EU-wide ban on non-essential uses of PFAS has also been put forward, although notably agricultural uses of PFAS are not being considered as part of that process. PFAS have been found almost everywhere, and a recent study revealed the presence of PFAS in postmortem human brain and serum samples, highlighting the potential for PFAS to accumulate in lipid-rich brain tissue and raising concerns about their unknown impacts on brain health.