In the revenue section of the state budget, the government adopted an amendment, tabled by Anne-Cécile Violland (Horizons), MP for Haute-Savoie, which stipulated " the entry into force of the fee dedicated to water pollution by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) "from March 1, 2026."
The government initially wanted to postpone this provision, which is included in, until 2027. The law against PFAS, enacted in February 2025 and which was initiated by the Green Party MP Nicolas Thierry. According to the Radio France investigative unitthe entry into force of the fee has been postponed by Matignon until the start of the 2026 academic year, reducing by at least 15 million euros the expected tax revenue from the chemical industry to finance water pollution cleanup“.
A technical report to offer visibility and legal certainty to manufacturers
“ The six-month technical postponement of the entry into force of the PFAS levy aims to guarantee its legal certainty." , Bercy told AFP. “ This delay is due to the recent expansion of the list of monitored substances, which entails new measurement campaigns for certain facilities, including sites not previously included, as well as the need to harmonize measurement methods and disseminate self-monitoring standards." , the same source adds.
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According to information from Radio France, the text of the decree has been finalized. early January » by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, for an implementation artwork within the planned timeframe. But the Ministry of Economy and Finance wanted a further postponement. several months", to offer more " visibility " and of " legal security "to manufacturers, according to Radio France." A dispute settled by Matignon, which reportedly chose the latest deadline among those considered by Bercy, according to Radio France, namely September 1, 2026.
"To the detriment of the interests of French men and women"“
“ One can only be outraged." , reacted Green Party MP Nicolas Thierry to AFP, author of the text. “ The government is very clearly choosing to protect the interests of industrialists at the expense of the interests of the French people." he said.
“ There's a real issue of social justice behind this.", according to the MP, who points out that the most contaminated sites are often "in inhabited areas" by households affected by poverty", to whom we will ask " to pay even more on the water bill", to finance the cleanup.
100 euros for 100 grams of PFAS spilled
The environmental initiative law notably includes a levy of 100 euros per 100 grams, to be paid by manufacturers whose factories release PFAS into the water, starting in 2026. These chemicals, virtually indestructible and present in a multitude of objects and products, accumulate. in the environment, food and, ultimately, in the human body.
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The device retains its objective of encouraging the reduction of emissions at the source, within the framework of the polluter-pays principle" , Bercy assured AFP, adding that Initial results already show significant investments by manufacturers in treatment and substitution processes, resulting in a reduction in waste and estimated yield.“.
According to Radio France's investigative unit, which is relying on a document from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, “ the annual revenue from the tax for the state if the measure had come into effect in October 2025 » was valued at « 21 million euros“With a postponement to September 2026, the government would only expect 5 million euros, perhaps less. The puzzle remains for local authorities, who are on the front line for water management.”
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