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The list below is an extract from the French and European official gazettes concerning the environment, energy and health and safety at work in February 2025.
ENVIRONMENT
Inclusion of perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in the quality control of water intended for human consumption (EDCH) and modification of the basis of assessment for non-domestic water pollution in relation to PFAS.
Code de la santé publique Articles L. 1321-1 A à L. 1321-10 : Sécurité sanitaire des eaux et des aliments MODIFIE PAR la loi n° 2025-188 du 27 février 2025 visant à protéger la population des risques liés aux substances perfluoroalkylées et polyfluoroalkylées [JORF du 28 février 2025].
Code de l'environnement Articles L. 213-1 à L. 213-22 : Structures administratives et financières MODIFIE PAR la loi n° 2025-188 du 27 février 2025 visant à protéger la population des risques liés aux substances perfluoroalkylées et polyfluoroalkylées [JORF du 28 février 2025].
Law no. 2025-188 of February 27, 2025 creates a new article in the French Public Health Code requiring regional health agencies to monitor the presence of perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, as defined by decree, as part of their sanitary control of EDCH quality. It is also planned that a map, made available to the public electronically and revised at least once a year, will target all sites that have emitted or are emitting perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances into the environment.
In addition, this law modifies the basis for the non-domestic* pollution tax for operators of facilities subject to authorization under the nomenclature for classified installations. When the activities of this person result in the discharge of perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) into water, either directly or via a collection network, the fee is based on the mass of substances discharged per year. The fee is set at 100 euros per hundred grams. The list of substances on which the fee is based is defined by decree.
* As a reminder, the fee for non-domestic pollution concerns any person whose activities result in the discharge of certain elements of pollution directly into the natural environment.
New incentive tax on the purchase of low-emission light vehicles
Code des impositions sur les biens et services Articles L. 421-93 à L. 421-167 : Taxes on the use of vehicles for economic purposes AMENDED BY law no. 2025-127 of February 14, 2025 on finance for 2025 [JORF of February 15, 2025].
Companies that directly or indirectly manage a fleet of more than one hundred light vehicles are no longer subject to the Environment Code's obligation to progressively acquire low-emission vehicles when renewing their fleets. They are now subject to an annual incentive tax on the acquisition of low-emission light vehicles. Taxable vehicles, exemptions and tax amounts are detailed in this section.
Removal of compulsory nature and updating of reference of various standards of general prescriptions decrees
Arrêté du 8 août 2011 relatif aux prescriptions générales applicables aux installations relevant du régime de l'enregistrement au titre de la rubrique n° 2518 de la nomenclature des installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement (ICPE) (Order of August 8, 2011 relating to the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2518 of the nomenclature of facilities classified for environmental protection)
Arrêté du 8 août 2011 relatif aux prescriptions générales applicables aux installations relevant du régime de l'enregistrement au titre de la rubrique n° 2522 de la nomenclature ICPE (Order of August 8, 2011 on the general requirements applicable to facilities subject to the registration regime under heading 2522 of the ICPE nomenclature)
Arrêté du 23 mars 2012 relatif aux prescriptions générales applicables aux installations relevant du régime de l'enregistrement au titre de la rubrique n° 2221 (préparation ou conservation de produits alimentaires d'origine animale) de la nomenclature ICPE (Decree of March 23, 2012 on the general requirements applicable to facilities subject to the registration regime under heading 2221 (preparation or preservation of food products of animal origin) of the ICPE nomenclature).
Order of November 26, 2012 on the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading No. 2251 (preparation, packaging of wines) of the ICPE nomenclature.
Decree of December 14, 2013 on the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2560 of the ICPE nomenclature.
Decree of December 14, 2013 on the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2563 of the ICPE nomenclature.
Order of September 2, 2014 on the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2410 (facility where wood or similar combustible materials are worked) of the ICPE nomenclature.
Order of April 24, 2017 relating to the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2230 of the ICPE nomenclature
Order of April 24, 2017 on the general requirements applicable to facilities covered by the registration regime under heading no. 2240 of the ICPE nomenclature
MODIFIED BY the order of January 27, 2025 removing the mandatory nature of various standards [JORF of February 14, 2025].
The decree of January 27, 2025 removes the mandatory nature of the standards applicable to new and existing installations and updates them, in particular in relation to the following subjects, according to the general prescriptions decrees:
- Fire resistance of premises ;
- Water emissions ;
- Air emission limit values ;
- Natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVS) in fire-risk premises;
- Sampling and analysis methods for technical spreading provisions.
ENERGY
New capacity mechanism
Code de l'énergie Articles L. 316-1 à L. 316-13 : Le mécanisme de capacité CREE PAR la loi n° 2025-127 du 14 février 2025 de finances pour 2025 [JORF du 15 février 2025].
Code des impositions sur les biens et services Articles L. 322-1 à L. 322-21 : Taxe de répartition des coûts du mécanisme de capacité CREE par la loi n° 2025-127 du 14 février 2025 de finances pour 2025 [JORF du 15 février 2025] (Tax to share the costs of the capacity mechanism)
To prevent the French power system from failing, this chapter of the Energy Code introduces a new capacity mechanism to replace the previous one, which expires in November 2026. This mechanism takes the form of remuneration paid by the public electricity transmission system operator (RTE) to operators of generation, storage and consumption curtailment capacity in return for their availability commitments. This chapter sets out the scope and implementation of the scheme.
This mechanism is accompanied by a tax to share the costs of the capacity mechanism, newly governed by the code of taxes on goods and services. This tax is allocated to the public electricity transmission system operator to finance the remuneration of operators.
SAFETY
Modification of provisions relating to technical installations distributing or using gas in establishments open to the public (ERP)
Arrêté du 25 juin 1980 portant approbation des dispositions générales du règlement de sécurité contre les risques d'incendie et de panique dans les ERP MODIFIE PAR l'arrêté du 23 février 2025 [JORF du 28 février 2025] (Decree of June 25, 1980 approving the general provisions of the safety regulations against the risks of fire and panic in ERP)
Following the repeal of the decree of August 2, 1977 on the technical and safety rules applicable to fuel gas and liquefied hydrocarbon installations located inside residential buildings or their outbuildings, the present decree amends the provisions relating to technical installations distributing or using gas in the first 4 categories, which have become obsolete. ERP of the 5th category may also be impacted by references made to these provisions.
Firstly, the scope of application is clarified. General safety objectives are also newly defined. The documents to be supplied prior to work are included unchanged. Technical rules and safety requirements have also been revised. Lastly, provisions relating to the verification and maintenance of installations are also impacted.
Ban on single-use electronic vaping devices
Code de la santé publique Articles L. 3512-1 à L. 3512-9 et L. 3513-1 à L. 3513-6 : Produits du tabac et du vapotage MODIFIE PAR la loi n° 2025-175 du 24 février 2025 visant à interdire les dispositifs électroniques de vapotage à usage unique [JORF du 25 février 2025].
The purpose of this law is to prohibit the holding for sale, distribution or free offer, the offering for sale, sale, distribution or free offer of single-use electronic vaping devices. This ban does not apply to cartridges.