On 20 February 2025, the French National Assembly definitively approved Loi n. 2025-188 – an ecologist-backed bill restricting the production and sale of products containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These synthetic chemicals become widely present in the environment due to world-wide production and multisector usage, raising significant public health concerns.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom. Their strong carbon-fluorine bonds make them highly resistant to degradation, heat, and environmental breakdown, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”
Environmental and health risks
- Environmental pollutants: PFAS persist in the environment, accumulating in water, soil, and living organisms
- Health effects: Studies have associated PFAS exposure to endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity.
Uses of PFAS in cosmetics
PFAS are widely used across various industries due to their unique physicochemical properties, giving the objects or materials desirable characteristics such as water and oil repellency, heat resistance, and non-stick quality.
In cosmetic products, they are used to enhance products’ performance. They contribute to the long-lasting, waterproof, and smooth application of various beauty products, particularly waterproof mascaras and eyeliners, long-lasting foundations and concealers, lipsticks and lip-glosses, and powders and primers.
France’s ban on PFAS
France is at the forefront of PFAS regulation with the enactment of Loi n. 2025-188, which introduces some of the strictest restrictions to date on the EU territory.
The key aspect of this legislation is the ban, effective from 1 January 2026, on the production, import, and sale of certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS, including cosmetics, ski wax, and textiles.
Beyond product restrictions, the law also emphasises greater transparency and oversight. Authorities must maintain and update an online map each year, identifying sites where PFAS emissions have occurred or continue to be of concern.
Regulatory status in the EU
Some PFAS are already banned under the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. However, increasing concerns over their persistence and potential health risks have prompted regulatory action. An EU-wide ban under REACH, covering all PFAS uses, is currently under review, with a decision expected in 2025.
How France compares to other European countries
No other European nation has implemented PFAS restrictions as stringent as France’s. However, some countries have taken individual measures. For example, Denmark banned PFAS-treated paper and cardboard food packaging in July 2020.
France’s decisive action against PFAS sets a new environmental and public health policy precedent. With an EU-wide ban under review, the French model could influence broader regulatory measures across Europe.
The law was officially promulgated and published in the official journal on 27 February 2025.
Do you have questions on compliance of cosmetics in the EU, UK, USA, and Canada? Contact us here or at coslaw@obelis.net.
References
Legifrance. (2025). LOI n° 2025-188 du 27 février 2025 visant à protéger la population des risques liés aux substances perfluoroalkylées et polyfluoroalkylées. Retrieved on 1 March 2025.
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