France Moves Toward Sweeping Restrictions on ‘Forever Chemicals’ as Global PFAS Bans Gain Momentum
France has approved a landmark law to restrict the production, import and sale of products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of highly persistent chemicals widely used since the 1940s in non-stick, waterproof and stain-resistant coatings. Often called “forever chemicals” because they take an extremely long time to break down, PFAS have seeped into soil, groundwater, food systems and even human blood and brain tissue. Long-term exposure, even at low levels, has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, weakened immune responses, low birthweights and multiple cancers.
Under the French legislation, which was approved in February and takes effect from January 2026, products with viable alternatives — including cosmetics, ski wax and most PFAS-treated clothing — will be banned, with exemptions for certain essential industrial textiles. A proposed ban on non-stick saucepans was removed following lobbying by Tefal’s owners, but the law will require authorities to expand routine testing of drinking water for a broader range of PFAS compounds. The move comes as international efforts continue under the Stockholm Convention, which has already prohibited chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS, though major producers like China and the United States are not signatories.
Similar regulatory steps are emerging worldwide. Several U.S. states, including California, will ban intentional PFAS use in cosmetics beginning in 2025, with more states to follow in 2026. Denmark, which has already outlawed PFAS in food packaging, will extend its ban to clothing, footwear and other waterproofed consumer goods from July 2026. The European Union is still assessing a region-wide ban on PFAS in consumer products, reflecting growing concern over the chemicals’ environmental persistence and public-health risks.
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