France Moves First on PFAS: What Fashion Brands Need to Know for 2026

Information courtesy of Niall Maplesden, Director at theknowledgenexus.co.uk

France has become one of the first European countries to introduce hard legal bans on PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in fashion and consumer products, forcing brands to act well ahead of wider EU regulation.

Under Decree No. 2025-1376, adopted on 28th December 2025, the French government will prohibit the manufacture, import, export and sale of a wide range of PFAS-treated products from 1 January 2026, including textiles, clothing, footwear and cosmetics.

The decree implements Law No. 2025-188, passed earlier in 2025, and marks a decisive step towards removing PFAS from everyday consumer goods.

A 12-month sell-through period applies for products manufactured before 1 January 2026, allowing existing stock to remain on the market until the end of 2026, subject to key conditions and exemptions.

Why This Matters for Fashion

France’s approach is widely seen as the most ambitious national PFAS restriction in Europe so far. Unlike the EU’s still-developing PFAS framework, the French rules:

• Apply immediately from 2026
• Include explicit bans, not just reporting or labelling
• Cover fashion and lifestyle products directly
• Shift the burden of proof onto brands and importers

Meanwhile, the EU is progressing a far-reaching PFAS restriction under REACH that will eventually apply across all Member States, potentially with even broader substance coverage.

For brands selling into France, early compliance is no longer optional.

What Are PFAS and Why Are They Being Banned?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals used since the mid-20th century for their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties.

In fashion and textiles, PFAS are most commonly used in:

• Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes
• Waterproof outerwear and performance apparel
• Stain-resistant treatments
• Footwear and accessories

In cosmetics, they are used to improve texture, longevity, shine and water resistance.

The problem is persistence. PFAS do not break down in the environment and accumulate in soil, water, food chains and the human body. Scientific evidence increasingly links long-term PFAS exposure to a range of health concerns, including hormone disruption, immune effects and increased cancer risk.

As a result, regulators across Europe are accelerating efforts to remove PFAS from non-essential consumer uses particularly where viable alternatives already exist.

What Does Decree No. 2025-1376 Actually Do?

Products Covered from 1st January 2026

Unless exempt, the decree bans products exceeding PFAS limits, including:

• Textiles and clothing treated with PFAS (including waterproof garments and footwear)
• Cosmetics containing PFAS
• Ski wax and fluorinated consumer products
• Waterproofing agents for consumer use

PFAS Thresholds

Products are considered non-compliant if they exceed:

• 25 ppb for any individual PFAS (targeted analysis)
• 250 ppb for the sum of identified PFAS
• 50 ppm for total PFAS (total fluorine, including polymeric PFAS)

Effective Dates & Transitional Period

• Law in force: 1 January 2026
• Sell-through period: Products manufactured before that date may be sold or exported until 31 December 2026

Exemptions: What Is Still Allowed?

The decree recognises that some uses are currently unavoidable and provides targeted exemptions, including:

• Protective clothing and equipment for emergency services and military use
• PPE covered by EU Regulation 2016/425
• Textiles and footwear containing more than 20% recycled content, including recycled polymers
• Specific essential uses where no viable PFAS-free alternative exists, subject to technical justification

Crucially, brands must now demonstrate that any detected fluorine originates from non-PFAS sources where exemptions are claimed.

Compliance, Testing and Enforcement

French market surveillance authorities will enforce the rules through:

• Product documentation checks
• Supply-chain declarations
• Targeted and random PFAS testing, particularly for products known to use water-repellent or stain-resistant finishes

Separate provisions also introduce regular PFAS testing of drinking water, reinforcing the public health focus behind the law.

How Does This Compare to EU-Wide Rules?

Some PFAS are already restricted at EU level under REACH, including:

• C9-14 PFCAs (restricted since 2023)
• PFHxA (restrictions from April 2026)
• Firefighting foams (ban from October 2030)

In parallel, the EU’s Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will introduce PFAS limits for food-contact packaging from August 2026.

However, the EU’s proposed blanket PFAS restriction under REACH covering thousands of substances is still under evaluation. Scientific opinions and consultations are expected through 2026, with final adoption likely later.

France is acting first, and brands selling into the French market must comply now regardless of where EU-wide rules eventually land.

Practical Implications for Fashion Businesses

• Any product sold into France from 2026 must meet French PFAS limits
• Brands should expect requests for test reports and supplier declarations
• Existing stock relief only applies if products were manufactured before 1 January 2026
• Dual compliance planning is essential: France now, EU next

What Should Brands Be Doing Now?

If you sell clothing, footwear or cosmetics into France:

1. Audit your product range for PFAS-treated materials and finishes
2. Engage suppliers immediately to confirm chemical inputs
3. Switch to PFAS-free alternatives where possible
4. Prepare documentation and testing evidence
5. Factor PFAS compliance into future material sourcing and design decisions

Non-compliance risks include blocked sales, product withdrawals and reputational damage.

Looking Ahead

France is not alone. Denmark will ban PFAS in clothing and footwear from July 2026, and other EU countries are expected to follow.

At the same time, 2026 marks key regulatory milestones for the fashion industry, including:

• The UK–EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) five-year review
• Q1 deadlines for UK and EU EPR reporting
• Increasing alignment between chemical, sustainability and trade regulation

For fashion brands, PFAS is no longer a future issue it is a 2026 commercial reality.

Top image by Mikhail Nilov via pexels.com