French overseas territories face delays in construction material law

A law passed in June 2025 intended to lower construction costs in French overseas territories remains stalled due to missing implementing decrees. The legislation, proposed by Senator Audrey Bélim, allows for the use of locally produced or regionally imported building materials that lack the standard European CE marking, provided they are validated by specific construction committees for the Antilles-Guyane and Indian Ocean regions.

Construction costs in these territories have risen significantly since 2020, with new housing costs increasing by 30% and doubling in Mayotte. In Réunion, material costs have historically been much higher than in neighboring Mauritius. While the Ministry of Housing suggests a Council of State opinion is imminent, Senator Bélim does not expect the law to take effect until early 2027.

The Federation of Overseas Enterprises (Fedom) attributes the delay to ministerial instability and administrative complexity. Local stakeholders are already looking toward regional alternatives, such as compressed earth bricks in Mayotte and specific imports from Brazil or Suriname for French Guiana.