France Begins Reimbursing Reusable Menstrual Products, but Measure Seen as Limited

France has begun reimbursing certain reusable menstrual hygiene products as of Thursday, October 1, nearly three years after the measure was first proposed, according to RFI.

Under the new policy, reusable sanitary products are fully or partially reimbursed for all women under 26 and for those in financially precarious situations. Officials estimate that nearly 7 million people are eligible to obtain reimbursed menstrual underwear or cups from pharmacies under the program.

The government has justified extending reimbursement to these products partly on environmental grounds, citing the reduced waste associated with reusable alternatives compared to single-use products. The policy had reportedly been under consideration for three years before finally taking effect.

Reaction among young women, including students at Paris Nanterre University, has been largely positive but tempered, with many welcoming the measure while describing it as an incomplete response to the broader cost burden of menstrual products in France.