France to introduce PFAS discharge fee as EU restricts food packaging chemicals

France will implement a new fee for the discharge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into water starting September 1, 2026. The levy applies to selected industrial facilities under the ICPE regime that release these substances directly into the environment or via sewage systems. The rate is set at 1,000 euros per kilogram, though facilities discharging less than 100 grams annually are exempt.

Operators may reduce the fee by up to 80% if they utilize specific cleaning technologies, such as active carbon, ion-exchange resins, or reverse osmosis, when discharging through sewage networks. While current estimates suggest the fee will generate approximately five million euros annually, inspectors have recommended expanding the scope to all industrial emitters to potentially increase revenue to 100 million euros.

In a broader regulatory context, the European Union has banned the use of certain PFAS in food packaging, limiting fluorine content to 50 milligrams per kilogram. Despite such restrictions on packaging, these “forever chemicals” remain pervasive in the environment and human biology, as they do not degrade in soil, water, or the human body.