France: reimbursement for reusable periodic safety will likely be efficient firstly of the varsity yr | EUROtoday

A measure that was adopted three years in the past. The authorities introduced on Thursday, April 16, that reimbursement for reusable periodic safety for girls underneath 26 and for probably the most weak will likely be efficient “at the start of the academic year”, in September or October.

This measure will concern 6.7 million individuals, specifies a joint press launch from the Ministries of Health and Gender Equality, who want to “fight against menstrual poverty”, “support purchasing power” and “encourage the use of reusable products”.

“Menstrual poverty is not inevitable: it is an injustice to which we must respond with determination,” commented the Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, quoted within the press launch.

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“No woman, no young girl should have to give up her intimate hygiene: it is a question of health and dignity,” underlined Aurore Bergé, Minister for Gender Equality.

Cotton, previous torn garments… One in ten ladies makes use of options to menstrual safety as a result of lack of sources, in response to a examine carried out in November 2025 for the Dons Solidaires affiliation, on a pattern of 4,002 adults.

Reimbursement will at this stage concern reusable periodic merchandise offered in pharmacies, reminiscent of panties and menstrual cups. For the references involved, “the specifications will be published after the opinion of ANSES”, the well being security company, specified the Ministry of Health.

“A measure that goes in the right direction”

“It’s a good thing,” welcomed Manon Moret, common secretary of the Unef scholar union. Faced with “the increase in student precariousness, it is all the more important to have policies on the issue of care and hygiene”, she underlined. According to the newest examine by the scholar group, printed final August, the distinction in value of dwelling reaches practically 285 euros between individuals who menstruate and people who don’t.

At Dare to Feminism, spokesperson Gaëlle d’Albenas says she is “very happy” with the measure, though she regrets that it was “delayed” in being carried out “because these are not subjects considered priorities”.

If the Student Union additionally welcomes “a measure which goes in the right direction”, it denounces “a partial reimbursement which will not put an end to menstrual poverty” and regrets the age restrict of 26 years. “It’s just a bandage,” mentioned Lenna Guerrier, Île-de-France consultant of the union group.

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The 2024 Social Security funds, adopted on the finish of 2023, supplied for the reimbursement of reusable menstrual safety (pants and cups) for insured individuals underneath 26 years of age, in addition to for beneficiaries of complementary solidarity medical health insurance (C2S) with no age restrict.

However, the measure had not been carried out, within the absence of the publication of the implementing decree, arousing the anger and incomprehension of feminist associations and producers of sturdy safety.

Questioned final yr within the National Assembly on this topic, Aurore Bergé then acknowledged a “delay (…) not acceptable” and affirmed that the commitments can be saved “before the end of the year” 2025.

With AFP