French National Assembly Passes Ambitious Law to Drastically Cut Cadmium Exposure

On June 3, 2025, the French National Assembly adopted a groundbreaking ecological law aimed at significantly reducing cadmium exposure among the population. This law mandates a rapid decrease in cadmium levels in phosphate fertilizers — a major source of soil contamination — with new limits far stricter than those proposed by the government and established under current European standards.

The legislation calls for a reduction in the maximum allowable cadmium concentration in fertilizers from 90 mg/kg to 40 mg/kg by 2027 and further down to 20 mg/kg by 2030. This contrasts with the government’s more gradual timeline, which envisions going from 90 mg/kg to 60 mg/kg by 2027 and achieving 20 mg/kg only by 2038. The European limit currently stands at 60 mg/kg, making France's new thresholds notably more stringent.

This decisive move comes amid alarming data from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses), indicating that nearly half the French population is exposed to cadmium levels exceeding health reference values, primarily through consumption of grains and cereals. Santé publique France has linked cadmium exposure to an increase in pancreatic cancers, underscoring the public health urgency.

Despite strong scientific and NGO support lauded by the law’s author, ecologist Benoît Biteau, the government expressed reservations. Minister for Ecological Transition Mathieu Lefèvre acknowledged that French cadmium exposure rates are among the highest in Europe but criticized the law’s accelerated reduction schedule as unrealistic and potentially detrimental to France’s food sovereignty and agricultural competitiveness.

The National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor, with 144 in support and 22 against. However, the law still awaits approval from the Senate before becoming binding.

This legislation marks a robust step forward in France’s commitment to environmental health, reflecting growing concerns about toxic contaminants and their long-term effects on the population. The law sets a new precedent by prioritizing public health protection over a cautious, gradual approach favored by the executive branch.