To pay for lunch at a restaurant in Paris or to do your shopping, what rules apply to the meal vouchers? On October 12, 2026, the National Assembly gave first reading to a bill reforming how they operate. The measures voted on remain at the parliamentary stage: they do not yet replace the rules currently in force.
According to Service Public, the daily cap remains set at €25 per day. The vouchers can be used on weekdays; Sundays and statutory holidays are reserved for employees who work on those days. They are valid in the department where the employee works and in neighboring departments, with extension possible at the employer’s discretion for business travel.
The purchase of foods intended for home preparation, such as pasta, flour, or raw meat, is permitted until December 31, 2026. Alcohol, sweets, baby and pet products, and non-food items remain excluded. Merchants are not required to accept this payment and may limit eligible items in-store.
Print, card, and app formats remain available. Titles can be used during their year of release, and then again in January and February of the following year.
The proposal that was approved provides, in particular:
The measure is slated to take effect on January 1, 2028, applying to securities issued in 2028 and subsequent years. It also foresees extending the exemption concerning food purchases until the end of 2027.
These provisions appear in the bill approved at first reading. They remain subject to the legislative process: the October 12 vote does not by itself authorize new uses. For your current payments, the rules outlined by Service Public remain the reference point.
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Official website
www.service-public.gouv.fr
