Pfas, France introduces first bans on industrial use
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
The French parliament has passed a law introducing bans on the industrial uses of Pfas, albeit with some surprising exclusions and exemptions.
Pfas, France introduces first bans on industrial use
The French parliament has passed a law introducing bans on the industrial uses of Pfas, albeit with some surprising exclusions and exemptions.
The French National Assembly has passed a law aimed at protecting the population from the risks associated with Pfas, the so-called "forever chemicals". So named because they do not break down in the environment, they consequently represent a constant threat to human beings and the natural world. We are talking about poly- and perfluoroalkyl compounds: thousands of synthetic chemicals widely used by industry because of their ability to make, for example, fabrics waterproof, pans non-stick and structures fire-resistant.
A long-debated text, following those of Denmark and Maine
The legislation that France has introduced into its legal system has been judged "particularly ambitious". And it withstood attempts by right-wing and far-right MPs to block its passage. "Thanks to the mobilisation of parliamentarians, non-governmental organisations, scientists and investigative journalists, the issue has imposed itself so firmly on the public debate that it has made possible the approval of one of the most ambitious laws in the world on Pfas," commented ecologist MP Nicolas Thierry.
Until now, it must be said, only Denmark and the American state of Maine have legislated on forever chemicals. In both cases, however, they actually went further than France: the decision was made to impose a progressive ban on the use of Pfas across a whole range of everyday products (from cosmetics to clothing, from footwear to food packaging).
The French ban covers cosmetics, textiles (with exceptions) and ski wax
The Paris parliament opted instead for a more limited scope: the manufacture, import and sale of products containing Pfas will be banned from 2026, but only for three categories. Namely cosmetics, clothing textiles (with a series of exceptions for professional products, until 2030) and ski wax.
On food packaging, the preference was to defer to European regulation (which in theory already imposes a ban from 2026). But the greatest disappointment is above all linked to kitchen utensils: the winner here was, evidently, the powerful lobbying activity carried out by the Seb group (the leading manufacturer of non-stick pans through the Tefal brand).
Victoire à l'Assemblée ! 🏆
Notre texte sur les PFAS a été adopté ! Une avancée majeure contre ces polluants éternels qui menacent notre santé et notre environnement. 🌍✊
Grâce à la mobilisation citoyenne et politique, nous faisons un pas de plus vers une eau et un avenir plus
Notre texte sur les PFAS a été adopté ! Une avancée majeure contre ces polluants éternels qui menacent notre santé et notre environnement. 🌍✊
Grâce à la mobilisation citoyenne et politique, nous faisons un pas de plus vers une eau et un avenir plus
The government and majority wanted to "save" the industrial giant Tefal
According to the government, including the sector would have meant "killing French industry" (in the words of Roland Lescure, Minister of Industry in April 2024, when a text already excluding the sector was passed on first reading). Better, in other words, to continue polluting and using substances whose impacts on human health are potentially catastrophic.
Significant, however, is the introduction into the law of the "polluter pays" principle, which will concretely require industrialists to bear the (enormous) costs of clean-up operations. The text stipulates a payment of 100 euros per 100 grams of Pfas discharged into water: this money will be paid to the agencies responsible for water resources, which will gradually equip themselves with drinking water treatment systems. The "levy" will come into force in a year's time and will weigh most heavily on chemical giants such as Arkema, Basf and Solvay.