France Officially Issues Ban On Models Deemed Too Thin

The too-thin model ban is officially in effect in France.
We previously reported that French lawmakers were mulling over banning fashion models that didn’t fit a healthy BMI criteria, and now a bill has been voted on and passed by the lower house of parliament!
According to the bill, any model deemed too thin according to the new parameters set forth by the law will not be allowed to work:

“…[M]odels would have to present a medical certificate showing a BMI of at least 18, about 55 kg (121 lb) for a height of 1.75 meters (5.7 feet), before being hired for a job and for a few weeks afterwards.”

Moreover, modeling agencies and agents who refuse to follow these new standards will face up to six months in prison or hefty fines reaching up to 75,000 euros ($82,300).
And a second measure states that any website that promotes “excessive thinness by encouraging eating restrictions for a prolonged period of time, resulting in risk of mortality or damage to health” will also face a year in prison or a fine of up to 100,000 euros (approx $110,000).
Wow! France is not messing around with this!
The law was in part inspired by model Isabelle Caro, who died from complications with anorexia in 2010 after participating in an anti-eating disorder campaign.
Those who oppose the law argue that a BMI of 18 is not always an indicator that someone is NOT suffering from an eating disorder, and that there are healthy, non-anorexic models who sometimes have a lower-than-18 BMI, but will now not be able to work because of this measure.
[Image via Vogue.]