France’s National Assembly has adopted a bill to outlaw the production, import or sale of cosmetics containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used for nearly a century for a variety of products across numerous FMCH categories, including beauty and personal care.
The chemicals take an extremely long time to break down, hence the nickname ‘forever chemicals.’
They have infiltrated the soil and groundwater and are now present in drinking water and throughout the food chain.
Chronic exposure to even low levels of these chemicals has been linked to a variety of health issues including high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birthweights, liver damage and several kinds of cancer.
The new bill bans use of PFAS in three product categories, which includes cosmetics, and imposes a charge on industrial water discharges under the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
French authorities will now regularly test drinking water to monitor for all kinds of PFAS.
A study undertaken in January this year found a type PFAS linked to health problems and birth defects has been found in the tap water of many French cities and towns.
The European Union has also been considering a possible ban on the use of PFAS in consumer products but has not yet implemented a regulation.