France Tightens PFAS Rules and Goes Beyond EU Regulation

France has introduced stricter rules on the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) than those currently in place at EU level. With Decree No. 2025-1376 of 28 December 2025, the French government aims to further reduce the risks associated with exposure to these substances. The new rules apply from 1 January 2026.

Who does this regulation apply to?

The regulation applies to manufacturers, importers, exporters and distributors of, among others:

• textile products and footwear
• cosmetics
• ski wax
• water-repellent treatments

Supervisory and enforcement authorities also fall within the scope of the decree.

What is changing?

The decree introduces a ban on the production, import, export and sale of certain product categories containing PFAS. For the purposes of the regulation, imports are considered equivalent to placing a product on the market. The rules are incorporated into the French Environmental Code and specify both maximum residual PFAS levels and exemptions from the ban.

Exemptions from the ban

Not all products are covered by the ban. Exemptions apply, among others, to:

• personal protective equipment (PPE), including equipment for defence, police and civil protection;
• water-repellent products used for the re-impregnation of PPE;
• technical textiles for industrial applications;
• medical textiles used in healthcare settings;
• clothing and footwear containing at least 20% recycled material from post-consumer waste, provided that PFAS is present only in the recycled portion.

Maximum PFAS concentrations

The decree sets clear threshold values for PFAS in products:

• a maximum of 25 ppb for individual PFAS substances (excluding polymers);
• a maximum of 250 ppb for the sum of all PFAS;
• when polymers are included, a limit of 50 ppm applies.
  If the total fluorine content exceeds 50 mg/kg, evidence must be provided to demonstrate whether the fluorine originates from PFAS.

Entry into force and transitional period

The regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2026. Products manufactured before this date may still be sold or exported during a 12-month transitional period, lasting until the end of 2026.