Drop-off points for old pans introduced at the post office
Nearly 1,000 new drop-off points for used pots and pans will open in post offices from mid-October as part of a recycling initiative run by Tefal in association with La Poste.
The network will eventually include around 1,700 locations, meaning that most people will be within 15 minutes of a collection point.
The aim is to recycle 20 million items by 2027, cutting CO2 emissions by 90% compared to using new aluminium.
Collected items will be stripped of harmful PFAS – the ‘forever chemicals’ used in non-stick coatings – during processing.
Isère village is France’s new favourite
Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye in Isère has been named France’s favourite village for 2025, winning the France 3 competition named Le Village Préféré des Français.
It is the first winner from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region since the contest began in 2012.
The medieval village is known for its 11th-Century abbey and cobbled streets, and sits on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route.
Local authorities are preparing improved parking and signage in the hope the award will help boost tourism.
Mountain road closures for cyclists
Roads in several French mountain regions will temporarily close to motor vehicles this summer to allow cyclists safe access.
The Cols réservés aux cyclistes scheme runs from June to October, with closures mostly in the morning.
Notable routes include the Galibier, Izoard, and Agnel passes in the Hautes-Alpes, and others across Haute-Savoie and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
The initiative began in 1997 and continues to expand. Full details are available on departmental websites and via local cycling groups.
Further medical fee increases
Fees for appointments with certain specialists — including gynaecologists, paediatricians, and geriatricians — have increased since July 1 following an initial rise last December. Visits to GPs, however, will stay fixed at the €30 fee introduced in December 2024.
More French roads return to 90km/h speed limit
The Morbihan department in Brittany has reintroduced the 90km/h speed limit on 8.5% of its secondary roads, becoming the latest to partly reverse France’s 2018 nationwide drop to 80km/h.
Around 600 signs have been installed to mark the changes.
More than half of French departments have now reinstated the 90km/h limit on parts of their networks – usually in rural or sparsely populated areas – under rules introduced in 2019 allowing local discretion.
The Eure department in Normandy is preparing to follow suit in 2026 after a council vote earlier this year. Safety studies and national approval are required first.
Some campaigners say the lower 80km/h limit reduces accidents and emissions, while others argue it has led to more dangerous overtaking. Morbihan’s president said the new 50/70/90km/h rules will be simpler and fairer.
Roads where the 90km/h limit applies must display signs. The default limit remains 80km/h.
Gas price increase
The price of gas increased by around 5% on July 1 due to an adjustment of the ‘reference’ fee (repère) on annual contracts.
The change, which raises the total annual reference fee (included in monthly bills) from around €277 to €290, is intended to help finance the network.
This increase is considerably lower than the 24% rise to the fee in 2024, and as the price per kW/h will remain stable, the predicted impact on gas bills is limited.
IRS will no longer accept or issue paper cheques
Americans in France will no longer be able to send or receive paper checks/cheques to or from the US tax authority - the IRS - from September.
The shift is part of a federal move to phase out paper-based payments, following a mandate signed by President Trump.
Most taxpayers will also no longer be able to file paper returns. Refunds will be issued electronically only, typically to a US-based or multi-currency account such as Wise. Cheques will be accepted only in rare – and as yet unspecified – circumstances.
The change aims to cut costs and reduce fraud, with digital payments considered faster, safer and less prone to being lost.
US citizens in France are advised to ensure the IRS holds their correct bank details and consider setting up the ‘Direct Pay’ option (requires a US account). Payments can also be made by international wire transfer or card, with instructions on the IRS website.
Unemployment benefit increase
The daily unemployment benefit increased by 0.5% on July 1, increasing from €31.97 to €32.30. More than two million people are expected to benefit.
Ryanair increases size of free carry-on luggage
Ryanair is set to increase the size limit for free carry-on luggage, in line with proposed new EU regulations.
All travellers will soon be able to bring a bag that fits the dimensions of 40 x 30 x 20cm, weighing a maximum of 10kg, which must be stowed under the seat in front of them, without being charged.
The change will be introduced in the coming weeks, once the airline has adjusted its devices to measure maximum bag size, it announced.
Passengers set to travel with the airline over summer should check in advance to see if the rules are in place for their journey.
The incoming limits are 20% larger than those currently in place with Ryanair (40 x 20 x 25cm), and noticeably larger than the proposed 40 x 30 x 15cm limit the EU wishes to instate on all airlines flying to and from the bloc.
Car registration documents go digital
France’s official ID app, France Identité, can now store a digital version of the car registration document la carte grise – but foreign residents including people with cartes de séjour and visas still cannot use the app.
Since June 30, drivers with a French ID card and a vehicle registered after 2009 can add their carte grise using the app’s NFC scan function. It joins other official documents already accepted on the app, including the carte Vitale, driving licence and digital insurance certificate.
The move means French citizens may now leave all paper vehicle documents at home, as digital versions can be shown to police during roadside checks.
However, the app remains unavailable to non-French nationals, who are advised to continue carrying physical copies.
Warning over bank card scam
Card holders in France are being warned about ‘shimming’ – a new form of card fraud that is almost impossible to detect.
Fraudsters place a tiny device called a ‘shimmer’ inside card readers, such as at petrol stations or ATMs, to secretly collect card data from the chip or magnetic strip.
The device transmits the data to hackers, who can withdraw funds or clone a card for contactless use – sometimes abroad.
While technically complex and relatively rare (€36,000 was stolen this way in 2023), authorities advise regularly checking accounts for suspicious activity.
Victims are usually reimbursed.
New rules for workers
Employers must provide shaded areas, shutters, and at least three litres of drinking water per employee during hot weather, since July 1.
They may also adjust working hours to avoid peak heat and suspend certain tasks if necessary. Labour inspectors will enforce these rules.
Apprentices with a Bac+3 qualification must now receive at least €750 during their contract, with training pay calculated pro-rata.
Employers with 11 or more staff may see an increase in the ‘versement mobilité’ surcharge, which funds local public transport.
Zero-interest eco-loan changes
The requirements to attain the 'éco-prêt à taux zéro’ (éco-PTZ or zero-interest eco loan) will be more closely aligned to those required to receive funding for the MaPrimeRénov’ (despite the temporary suspension of larger projects within the latter scheme).
To receive the loan for much larger or multiple projects (rénovation globale) applicants need to have an energy audit that estimates the work will improve the property’s DPE rating by at least two classes.
Broader role for nurses
Senators have passed a new law that broadens the role of nurses, allowing them to diagnose patients and prescribe a wider range of medicines and treatments.
This change aims to speed up access to care, as nurses will no longer need to refer patients to doctors for certain prescriptions and decisions.
The law recognises independent nursing consultations and clinical reasoning, and extends nurses’ ability to prescribe tests and care products after consultation with health authorities.
It also supports the growth of advanced practice nurses, with expanded prescribing rights, including in maternal and child healthcare.
A return-to-work scheme for nurses away for six years or more is planned.
The law aims to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.
Contactless payments to become easier
Contactless payments are set to become faster and more reliable thanks to a technical upgrade to NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.
Members of the NFC Forum – including Apple, Sony and Google – recently confirmed the update, which will increase the distance between card or phone and reader from 0.5cm to 2cm. The change will also improve signal stability, reducing failed payments and speeding up transactions.
Devices most reliant on NFC are expected to benefit from late 2025, with others following in 2026-2027.
New ‘driving homicide’ offence
A new criminal offence of homicide routier (road homicide) has been introduced in France, after winning final Senate approval and publication in the Journal officiel on July 10.
It applies when a fatal road accident is caused by a driver committing a separate offence, such as driving under the influence or without a licence.
Until now, only homicide involontaire (manslaughter) charges could be brought, which families of victims said failed to reflect the seriousness of the crimes.
The new charge carries the same penalties as aggravated manslaughter – up to 10 years in prison and a €150,000 fine.
If no offence is committed alongside the accident, prosecutors will continue to use manslaughter rules.
'Eco-bonus' for EVs changed
France’s electric vehicle (EV) ‘bonus écologique’ is now financed through energy certificates (CEE) rather than direct government subsidies.
Companies missing energy-efficiency targets fund the scheme.
Low-income households may save up to €4,200, others up to €3,100, when buying eligible EVs costing €47,000 or less.
Nice-Monaco metro link too difficult
Plans to build a metro link between Nice and Monaco have effectively been shelved, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has said, citing excessive costs and complex administrative hurdles.
A 10km tunnel was proposed by Nice mayor Christian Estrosi in 2022 as a solution to growing congestion on road and rail routes, with tens of thousands commuting daily into Monaco.
The minister now favours a mix of smaller-scale solutions, including a €1billion park-and-ride site between the principality and Èze, and a Paris-style ‘Metropolitan RER’ linking the coastal corridor.
Since January, rail capacity has been boosted by 30% between Menton and Cannes, with trains running every 15 minutes. The new services pass through both Nice and Monaco.
Rennes limits size of swimming pools
Rennes has become the first French city to restrict the size of new private swimming pools as part of a drive to manage water use in the face of drought.
Under a change to the city’s local planning rules (PLU), any new pool must be smaller than 25m3 – roughly 6m x 4m and one metre deep – compared to the French average of 40m3.
Mayor Nathalie Appéré said the change was necessary as Rennes faces increasingly long and severe droughts. Summer rainfall in Brittany often fails to reach underground water tables, while the city recently saw highs of 37C.
Critics say the rule is unnecessary and ideological, arguing most pools are only filled once and account for less than 0.1% of national water use. Builders also note the industry has improved its environmental impact.
Energy labels on phones
New smartphones and tablets sold in France must now feature energy-rating labels to inform customers of a device’s durability and energy-efficiency.
The sticker, which became compulsory for new mobile devices on June 20, “informs [customers] about the energy efficiency of electronic appliances” and “helps [them] choose between several models when making a purchase in a store or online,” explains Service-Public.fr.
Buyers should already recognise the label, which is featured on products such as refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions.
Reimbursement for myopia-correcting lenses for children
Social Security now offers partial reimbursement for ‘Miyosmart’ lenses for children aged five to 16 with severe or rapidly worsening myopia, since July 1.
The reimbursement is €44.28 per lens, against a base price of €147.60. Additional costs may be covered by complementary insurance.
