Environmental-focused law firm ClientEarth has called on the EU and other countries to introduce rules restricting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), following the footsteps of France which introduced such a law yesterday. The new law, starting in 2026, will prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of products containing PFAS, which are often referred to as ‘forever’ chemicals, in three categories of consumer goods: cosmetics, clothing textiles and ski waxes. By 2030, the ban will extend to all textiles. Besides textiles, PFAS are widely used in various sectors such as automotive, construction, defence and electronics. Their properties, including chemical inertness, temperature resistance, and oil, water and stain-repellence, making them harmful in a number of ways. The process to adopt an EU-wide PFAS restriction is ongoing, but a proposal from the European Commission is not expected until 2027. “This law has undeniable shortcomings. Nonetheless, France is one of the first countries to act on what is both a public health and an environmental crisis and it should be applauded,” said Hélène Duguy, Lawyer at ClientEarth. “The weight of scientific evidence on the harms of PFAS is now overwhelming. Alternatives exist and it’s imperative for top officials in Brussels and other countries to stop kicking the can down the road. We need sweeping restrictions on PFAS for consumer and industrial uses now.”
Heureux de l'adoption large par l'@AssembleeNat de la proposition de loi visant à interdire les #PFAS.
La 🇫🇷 devient ainsi pionnière dans la lutte contre les polluants éternels.
Une avancée majeure pour l’environnement et la santé publique. pic.twitter.com/JJVZHmeMRg
— Frédéric Valletoux (@fredvalletoux) February 20, 2025
