Earlier this month the French government announced changes to the legal framework for low-emission zones (Zones à Faibles Emissions – ZFE) in metropolitan areas.

The announcement was widely reported as an easing of existing restrictions, but this is not so.

Low-emission zones in France were introduced in 2019 to reduce the circulation of high-polluting vehicles in urban conurbations.

Initially, 10 metropolitan areas which regularly exceed air quality limits were required to set up ZFEs.

They are Paris, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Toulon, Strasbourg, Rouen, Montpellier Grenoble and Toulon, which has yet to put a ZFE in place.

In 2021 the law was strengthened, making it obligatory by 1st Jan 2025 for all agglomerations with a population greater than 150,000 to establish a ZFE. A total of 37 metropoles would be affected by this change.

This was not an overwhelmingly popular measure, many critics commenting that it unduly penalised lower income households.

The creation of a ZFE does not by itself mean that restrictions on circulation must be imposed. That is only necessary if pollution levels exceed the authorised limits on a regular basis. ZFEs are merely zones where restrictions on circulation can be introduced and where they must be imposed if pollution limits are exceeded.

However, given that most of the population believe the introduction of a ZFE will mean restrictions, the government has decided that those areas that meet pollution limits will simply be called 'territoires de vigilance'.

The only exception is that vehicles registered before 31 December 1996 are systematically banned in all ZFEs.

The result is that of the first 10 cities concerned, 5 no longer exceed existing pollution limits, with no obligation to have ZFE status. Only 5 agglomerations remain subject to these constraints: Paris, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Rouen and Strasbourg.

Nevertheless, local councils can decide to retain their ZFE status, which is likely to be the case.

Of the remaining areas, if air quality regularly exceeds the minimum threshold, a territoire de vigilance would be obliged to become a ZFE, with the restrictions that implies.

You can read about the requirements that apply in ZFEs at Crit'Air Emissions Sticker.