Massively present in everyday life (Teflon pans, food packaging, textiles, automobiles, etc.), these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS (pronounced “pifasse”) owe their nickname to their very long life cycle and, for some, to their harmful effect on health.
At first glance consensual, the Law proposition presented by the ecologist Nicolas Thierry, first of eight texts presented by his group as part of its parliamentary niche, should ultimately be hotly debated.
The government highlighted the work underway at European level on Wednesday. “It is at the European level that we must fight on this subject, the European lever is the right lever” in order not to weaken French industry at the expense of those of neighboring countries, declared in the hemicycle Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
The European Agency for chemical products published in 2023 a draft ban moving in the direction of a broad restriction of PFAS. But “this initiative is conditional on a long decision-making process and might result in the most favorable scenario by 2027-2028”, according to Mr. Thierry.
Towards a broad restriction of PFAS
The text from the MP for Gironde aims to reduce the population’s exposure to these molecules, by prohibiting the manufacture, import, export and marketing of certain products which contain them.
In its initial version, it planned to ban the use of PFAS by July 2025 for certain products, and 2027 for others, with possible exemptions. In order to obtain a majority in the Sustainable Development Committee last week, Mr. Thierry agreed to restrict its ambition.
The version presented in the hemicycle therefore plans to ban from January 1, 2026 any kitchen utensil, cosmetic product, wax product (for skis) or textile product clothing containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with the exception of protective clothing for security and civil safety professionals.
All textiles would be affected by the ban from January 1, 2030. The packaging sector, however, falls outside the scope of the law, to the extent that a European regulation must “very soon” regulate it more strictly.
Other measures include the obligation to control the presence of PFAS in drinking water throughout the country and the application of the polluter pays principle with a tax targeting manufacturers who release them.
“Don’t touch my frying pan”
Despite this rewriting, the text continues to give rise to reluctance. Author of a report in February which called for “urgently stopping industrial discharges” containing eternal pollutants “without waiting for European restrictions”, the MoDem deputy Cyrille Isaac-Sibille tabled an amendment which plans to postpone the ban applied to kitchen utensils as of January 1, 2030.
On Wednesday, hundreds of employees supported by their management organized a gathering near the National Assembly to demand the “withdrawal” of the text. “Don’t touch my frying pan,” we might read on signs.
The law would threaten 3,000 jobs at the Seb factories in Rumilly (Haute-Savoie) and Tournus (Saône-et-Loire) which notably manufacture Tefal stoves, and polytetrafluoroethene used for coating the latter would not be dangerous, according to the group.
Questioned by AFP, Mr. Thierry denounced the “rather crude lobbying” of an industrialist who “disseminates scientifically erroneous information” and who engages in “classic blackmail of employment” while “the future is will write without eternal pollutant” and that alternatives already exist for culinary products.
“If, on such a serious public health subject, when there is a scientific, political, citizen consensus, we do not act, when do we do it?”, he expressed alarm.
According to Jean-Marc Zulesi (Renaissance), president of the Sustainable Development Committee, the position of the Macronist group is “not stabilized”. If some want to reject the text, others plead for pushing back the deadline from 2026 to 2030. “An eternity” for Mr. Thierry.
With AFP.
