France – Update on Prohibition of Clothing Textile Products, and Footwear Containing PFAS

Vol. 1512 | 06 Jan 2026

France’s PFAS decree No. 2025-188 and implementing decree No. 2025-1376 prohibited PFAS in specified product groups from January 1, 2026, introduce residual PFAS thresholds, and allow specific exemptions for PPE, PPE-related waterproofing agents, and clothing/footwear with at least 20% post consumer recycled material.

France's decree No. 2025-188 prohibited the manufacturing, importing, exporting, and placing on the market the ski wax, cosmetics, clothing, textiles, footwear, and waterproofing agents product containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 

Read Insight Vol. 1465: France – Prohibits Clothing Textile Products, and Footwear Containing PFAS.

On December 30, 2025, the French government signed the decree No. 2025-1376 to establish rules for implementing bans on those products that containing PFAS. The residual PFAS thresholds and the list of exemptions are defined in this decree. Below are the key highlights:

Residual PFAS thresholds:

• 25 ppb for any PFAS measured by targeted analysis, excluding polymers;
• 250 ppb for the sum of PFAS measured as the sum of targeted PFAS analysis, where applicable with prior degradation of precursors, excluding polymers; and
• 50 ppm for PFAS including polymers; if total fluorine exceeds 50 mg/kg the manufacturer, importer or, exporter, or producer must provide, upon request from the competent authorities, proof that the fluoride content originates from PFAS or non-PFAS substances.

These values are subject to revision in the event of changes to the technical provisions laid down in European Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 or (EU) 2019/1021.

Exemptions

Exemptions are granted for clothing textile and footwear products:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) covered by EU Regulation 2016/425 (including PPE and combat equipment for armed forces, internal security and civil protection),
• Waterproofing agents intended for the re-waterproofing of PPE,
• Clothing textiles and footwear incorporating at least twenty percent (20%) of post-consumer recycled material, with residual PFAS limited to the proportion of recycled material

The provisions of this decree shall enter into force on January 1, 2026.

Those products containing PFAS and manufactured before January 1, 2026, may be placed on the market or exported for a maximum period of twelve months from this date. After this period, any placing on the market or export of these products shall be prohibited.

Further details of the decree can be found as below.

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053201526

If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Kathy Leung (Kathy.Leung@intertek.com) or Dr. Ben Cheng (Ben.PS.Cheng@intertek.com)

 

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