France has one of the strictest laws on recreational DNA testing in Europe, and it shapes everything about French DNA genealogy: who can test, where kits are sold, and why cousins in France are harder to find. This guide explains the law as it stands, the reform bill that has been working through the National Assembly, and what it means for readers who live outside France. It is general information and not legal advice.
What the law says
- The principle. Article 16-10 of the Civil Code says a person’s genetic characteristics may be examined only for medical or scientific research purposes, with a judicial exception for legal proceedings.
- The penalty for individuals. Article 226-28-1 of the Penal Code punishes a person who requests an examination of their own genetic characteristics outside the legal framework with a fine of up to €3,750.
- The penalty for companies. Marketing such tests in France is punishable by far heavier penalties, reported as up to a year in prison and a €15,000 fine for the offense itself, and fines for companies are multiplied under French law.
- Advertising. Advertising for recreational genetic tests is restricted, and lawmakers have repeatedly voted to keep it banned.
France and Poland are described as the only European Union countries that penalize the use of genealogical DNA tests.
In practice: widely ignored, rarely enforced
Estimates suggest that roughly 100,000 to 200,000 French people order kits from abroad each year, depending on the source, and that between 1.5 and 2 million have already tested. To our knowledge, no prosecutions of individual testers have been widely reported, and commentators regularly describe the €3,750 fine as never applied. That is not a reason to assume testing is legal. It means the law and practice have drifted far apart, which is the main argument of those who want to change it.
Why kits no longer ship to France
Several companies once shipped kits to French addresses, but in early 2023 MyHeritage and 23andMe stopped, followed by FamilyTreeDNA and Living DNA. AncestryDNA does not ship to France. The French genealogy press attributed the change to growing legal pressure. For the current picture of where each test is sold, see The DNA Geek’s guide to where each test is sold.
The reform bill
A bill to legalize genealogical DNA testing within a defined framework was filed in the National Assembly in December 2025 and passed the law committee on May 6, 2026. As amended in committee, the text keeps the ban on advertising and would decriminalize the use of tests for genealogical research under defined conditions. Amendments tabled for the plenary session proposed safeguards such as compliance with data-protection law, presenting results in French, and barring insurers and lenders from using the data, so the final content is uncertain. The bill was scheduled for debate on May 11, 2026, but the session ended before reaching it, so there has been no public debate or vote.
As of the latest reporting we found, the text is awaiting a new place on the agenda. Check the National Assembly’s page for the bill and Revue française de Généalogie’s report for updates, because the situation could change at any time. Earlier attempts, including during the 2019 bioethics debate, were rejected.
Why lawmakers and advisers want change
- The law is widely circumvented. Hundreds of thousands of French people have tested through foreign companies.
- Data goes abroad. French genetic data ends up in databases outside France and outside French data-protection oversight.
- People seek their origins. Adoptees and people conceived with donor help often have no other route to biological relatives.
The other side of the debate
Opponents raise real concerns: DNA data involves a person’s relatives who never consented, it can reveal sensitive information, and it can be misused. A responsible approach, whichever side you favor, is to understand what a company will do with your data before you test.
What this means for you
| Your situation | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|
| You live in the United States, Canada, or elsewhere outside France | The French ban does not govern your test, but the thinner pool of French matches affects your results |
| You live in France | Genealogical DNA testing is illegal under current law; this site does not encourage anyone to break it. Check the latest legal position and consider records-based research |
| You have a French relative who tested | Be discreet and respectful when you contact them. See how to find French cousins |
If you want the practical comparison of tests available outside France, read our best DNA test for French ancestry and the DNA hub. For research that does not depend on DNA, see our complete guide to tracing French ancestry.
A short timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1994 | The first French bioethics laws set the strict framework that still limits genetic testing |
| October 2019 | During the bioethics debate, the National Assembly rejected amendments to legalize genealogical tests and voted to ban advertising for them |
| Early 2023 | MyHeritage and 23andMe stopped shipping kits to France; other companies followed |
| December 2025 | The reform bill was filed in the National Assembly |
| May 6, 2026 | The law committee adopted an amended text |
| May 11, 2026 | The scheduled plenary debate ended before the bill was reached |
What to watch
If the reform passes, expect a defined framework with rules on data protection, consent, and advertising, and French-language results. Until then, the current ban stands. Because the situation can change quickly, check official sources and the French genealogy press, and do not rely on any summary, including ours, for a legal decision.
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