France to Provide Free Reusable Menstrual Products to Young Women

By: WE Staff | Friday, 17 April 2026

• France to fund reusable menstrual cups and underwear for young women
• Initiative expected to support nearly 6.7 million people
• Postponement in implementation sparks criticism from women’s rights organizations

The French government has stated that it's expanding the way social security funding supports reusable menstrual products. Reusable menstrual products, reusable menstrual cups and underwear that can be reused many times. It will be provided for all French women and girls up to 26 years of age or those living in poverty in the country.

The government hopes this will help 6.7 million people, 9.7 percent of the entire French population, to be launched during the 2024/2025 school year.

Under this program, all women under 26 who have state-provided health coverage, as well as women of all ages who receive any other forms of healthcare from the government or other agencies because of low income, will be able to claim reimbursement on these items purchased at pharmacies. Reimbursement will be based upon receipts provided as proof of purchase.

The legislation enacting this program was approved by the French Parliament as part of the 2024 budget for the French National Assembly's Social Security Spending Plan for the 2024 financial year. Consequently, many organizations and businesses producing and/or advocating sustainable sanitary products are extremely disappointed by the lack of a government decree to implement the program.

A study conducted in November 2018 by the French non-profit Dons Solidaires on 4,000 women throughout France found that one out of every ten respondents used alternative methods to deal with their menstrual cycles due to financial limitations.

In addition, as of 2016, menstrual products were taxed at a reduced rate of 5.5 percent instead of the original 20 percent VAT in France, while Scotland issued legislation in 2020 to make sanitary supplies a legal entitlement in all Government-run locations.