France takes aim at ultra-skinny models

Lawmakers in France will on Tuesday debate a law banning ultra-thin catwalk models, despite a chorus of disapproval from modelling agencies in the world's fashion capital.

Health Minister Marisol Touraine has given her backing to amendments to a broader health law that would stop model agencies employing models whose Body Mass Index (BMI) falls below a certain level.

"I believe that models should eat well and look after their health. This is an important message to young women who see these models as an aesthetic example," Touraine told French television.

The parliamentary amendment would force model agencies to provide a medical certificate for each model, proving that her BMI is above a healthy level or face punishment of up to six months in prison and a 75,000 euro ($80,000) fine.

The National Union of Modelling Agencies (SYNAM) complained this would affect the competitiveness of French modelling.

"French modelling agencies are in permanent competition with their European counterparts. As a result, a European approach is needed," the union said in a statement.

Some countries -- notably Spain, Italy, Belgium, Chile and Israel -- have already passed laws on the issue.

A second amendment would outlaw sites "condoning anorexia" and make it a crime to "glamorise excessive thinness."

The Socialist MP proposing the amendments, Olivier Veran, said that "between 30,000 and 40,000" French people suffer from anorexia.

"In 90 percent of the cases, these are adolescents. The image that the fashion industry gives -- which is that women have to be pathologically thin to be beautiful and appear on the catwalk -- has a very strong social impact," he said.

However, Gerald Marie, head of a Paris model agency, said that while any legislation that reduces anorexia is a positive development, "we shouldn't mix things up."

"There is anorexia and there are girls who are thin, very thin, naturally and you can make them eat all day and they would stay thin," he told AFP.