Updated 13 August 2025: UKFT has provided an update on the French ban on PFAS on consumer products for UK fashion and textile businesses, including information on what is included and key dates for future developments.

On 27 February 2025, France enacted Law No. 2025-188 to prohibit the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics, textiles, ski waxes, and waterproofing agents by January 2026, with further restrictions on all PFAS-containing textiles by 2030. The ban covers the production, import, export, and placing on the market of PFAS-containing products. PFAS are widely used for their ability to repel grease, water, and oil, but they persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, raising significant health and environmental concerns.

A complementary Decree is expected to be published in December 2025 to define the technical thresholds and exemptions. The draft Decree proposes three cumulative concentration thresholds to determine whether a product falls under the ban:

• 25 parts per billion (ppb) for any individual PFAS measured by targeted analysis (excluding polymers)
• 250 ppb for total PFAS measured as the sum of targeted analyses, including precursors (excluding polymers)
• 50 parts per million (ppm) for PFAS including polymers

Products exceeding these thresholds will be prohibited unless exempt.

There are exceptions for certain industrial textiles and products considered essential for critical applications. Protective and safety gear for national defence or civil security missions are also exempt. Key dates for implementation include:

• 1 January 2026 – Ban applies to cosmetics, ski waxes, textiles, clothing, footwear, and waterproofing agents
• 1 January 2030 – Ban expands to all PFAS-containing textiles

From 1 January 2026, exemptions will apply to personal protective equipment (PPE) as defined by EU Regulation 2016/425, waterproofing agents used for the maintenance of PPE, and military and civil security gear, which is excluded from the scope of the EU PPE regulation but covered under French law. From 1 January 2030, exemptions will apply to technical textiles for industrial use, such as high-performance membranes used in filtration or separation processes, and textiles necessary for essential use or national sovereignty, where no PFAS-free alternative exists.

The new legislation also strengthens PFAS monitoring in drinking water with mandatory annual public reporting. It imposes financial penalties on industrial polluters, including a tax of EUR 100 per 100 grams of PFAS released into the environment. Additionally, a five-year plan aims to eliminate industrial PFAS water discharges by 2030. France’s measures are part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental and health impacts of PFAS. While these national restrictions are significant, they are relatively limited compared to the EU-wide PFAS Restriction Proposal, which aims to regulate both consumer and industrial applications more comprehensively.

Manufacturers, importers, and retailers should prepare for supply chain disruptions and reformulation challenges. Textile brands will need to adopt alternative waterproofing technologies, and industrial facilities must implement PFAS reduction strategies to comply with discharge limits and avoid penalties. UKFT will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on PFAS regulations across the EU.