On April 14th, France’s National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, passed a draft law that would instate a variety of new initiatives aimed at bolstering the health of the French population. The draft law passed with a majority of 311 to 241, and it will go to the Senate and return to a final vote in the Assembly before being officially instated. The primary proponent of this bill, stated by French Health minister Marisol Touriane, is that “it is crucial to tackle the challenge of aging and the emergence of new diseases” in France, while maintaining the integrity of her nation’s health care system. These progressive initiatives are primarily directed at advertising and the images projected by various industries in France.
One of the stipulations of the bill targets France’s acclaimed fashion industry. It would forbid any individual below a certain body mass index, or BMI, to earn money working as a model. Additionally, modeling agencies or companies employing models below this threshold BMI could face fines of up to 75,000 euros and six months in prison. The aim of this measure would be to oppose the glorification of dangerously skinny figures in the modeling industry and promote a healthier body image. The minimum acceptable BMI for a model has not been decided yet, but it will be settled on in the law’s final drafts. France’s Health Ministry reports that an estimated 40,000 individuals in France have anorexia, and 90% of these are women. Other nations like Spain and Israel have already instituted policies similar to this, with the same goal of reforming the fashion industry.
Image Source: Vincent Besnault
Fashion is not the only industry being targeted by this bill, as the draft law would also regulate cigarette packaging. The government would require manufacturers to redesign cigarette containers, standardizing their shape, size, color, and font, only uniquely displaying their brand. Smoking is very popular amongst the French public, with about 30% of the population engaging in the habit. The hope is that a more basic package design would not attract youth to smoking as much and could reduce the number of smoking related deaths in France, which is currently about 73,000.
Alongside the fashion and cigarette manufacturing reforms, underage drinking and childhood obesity are also addressed by this pending legislation. Companies or people who encourage minors to binge drink are subject to a fine of 15,000 euros or years in prison. Clothing or other products inciting people to get drunk would be made illegal. Touraine’s bill tried to go one step further and force alcoholic drinks to bear advertisements, including alcohol-related risks, but this was shot down by the National Assembly as they have too many ties to wine lobbyists and thought the measure would be too controversial. Additionally, in an effort to curb obesity and encourage consumers to make healthier choices when dining out, the law would ban free-refill soda fountains at fast-food chains.
If this draft law is approved by both the Senate and the National Assembly, it would ideally take effect this summer. While the United States has also imposed regulations somewhat similar to France in requiring that graphic health warnings be displayed on cigarette packs and also seems to be moving towards imposing more sales regulations on the soda industry, there is no comparable legislation regarding anorexia and the fashion industry or advertising binge drinking. Perhaps if these measures pass in France, the United States will consider moving in a similar direction if positive results ensue.
Feature Image Source: Wisegie
