Who gets free iodine tablets in France, and when to take them

Short answer. In France, free stable iodine tablets are handed out in pharmacies to people living or present near nuclear sites: within 20 km of nuclear power plants, 500 m to 5 km of other nuclear installations, and 5 km of four military ports ¹². Everyone else is covered by State stocks that the prefect distributes in an emergency ⁷⁸. Take tablets only on the prefect's order; adults take 2 tablets of 65 mg ¹³.

Information checked on 21 October 2026.

Who can get free iodine tablets in France?

People living or present in these zones ¹²:

To check whether your address is concerned, use Géorisques, "Connaître les risques près de chez moi", at georisques.gouv.fr ¹.

What about people who live outside these zones?

The State keeps strategic stocks of iodine tablets so they can be handed out anywhere in the country in an emergency ⁷. Santé publique France stores them in each département and on regional platforms ⁷⁸. In each département, the prefect organises distribution under the iodine section of the ORSEC emergency plan ⁷⁸. The rules come from circular DGS/DUS/DSC/2011/64 of 11 July 2011 ⁸. The size of the stock is covered by national defence secrecy ⁷.

In March 2022, the Health Ministry said that buying and taking iodine as a precaution, without an instruction from the authorities, is not necessary ⁹.

How do I collect them in the zones?

Tablets are free in participating pharmacies, shown on a map on sante.fr ¹. Individuals need no proof of address ¹. Businesses and public buildings such as schools, hospitals and shops need a "bon de retrait" (collection voucher) ¹.

Tablets distributed from 2024 are valid for 10 years. Keep them in their cardboard box, in a dry place, at room temperature ¹.

When should I take iodine?

Only on instruction from the authorities. In France, the prefect gives the order ¹⁹. "Toute prise de comprimés d'iode ne doit se faire que sur instruction des autorités compétentes" ¹: iodine should only ever be taken on the instruction of the competent authorities. Ideally, take it within 2 hours before exposure, and no later than 8 hours after ¹.

Sheltering in place in a solid building remains the official instruction ⁴ (alerts, public shelters). For the general principles, see Potassium iodide (KI): when to take it and who needs it.

What is the dose?

Two 65 mg scored tablets are authorised: one from the Pharmacie centrale des armées (authorised 24 February 2009) and one from SERB (authorised 17 November 2021) ³⁶. Doses from the official medicine database ³:

Follow the authorities' instructions on the day; they may differ from this table ¹³.

Can I buy iodine tablets outside the zones?

This is not settled. The official medicine database gives three different statements for both products ³⁶:

• the page header says "sur ordonnance uniquement" (prescription only);
• the "conditions de prescription et de délivrance" field, also in the database's data file, says only "à ne prendre que sur instructions des autorités compétentes" (take only on the instructions of the competent authorities), with no prescription list ⁵;
• the summary of product characteristics says "Médicament non soumis à prescription médicale" (not subject to prescription).

A senator's written question in 2022 stated that iodine tablets are not freely sold in French pharmacies. The Health Ministry's 2023 reply described the State stocks and did not answer the point on retail sale ⁷. Both products have a free price and are not reimbursed ³⁶. No official page found as of 21 October 2026 says whether a pharmacy may sell them outside the distribution schemes. Ask a pharmacist. Phaenyx will update this page once the status is confirmed.

Frequently asked questions

Is iodine free in France?

Yes, in participating pharmacies, for people living or present in the zones around nuclear sites listed above ¹². Outside those zones, State stocks are distributed by the prefect in an emergency ⁷.

Should I take iodine as soon as I hear about a nuclear accident?

No. Take it only when the prefect orders it, ideally within 2 hours before exposure and no later than 8 hours after ¹.

Should I buy iodine as a precaution?

The Health Ministry said in 2022 that buying and taking iodine as a precaution, without an instruction from the authorities, is not necessary ⁹.

How long do French iodine tablets last?

Tablets distributed from 2024 are valid for 10 years, if kept in their box, dry, at room temperature ¹.

Do children take the same dose?

No. Children from 36 months to 12 years take 1 tablet, infants half a tablet and newborns a quarter tablet, each as a single dose ³.

Sources

1. Sante.fr (Ministère de la Santé) — Campagne de distribution de comprimés d’iode stable autour des installations nucléaires — https://www.sante.fr/campagne-distribution-iode (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Ordre national des pharmaciens — Campagne de distribution de comprimés d'iode stable dans les officines situées dans un rayon de 10 à 20 km des centrales nucléaires de production d'électricité d'EDF — https://www.ordre.pharmacien.fr/les-communications/focus-sur/les-actualites/campagne-de-distribution-de-comprimes-d-iode-stable-dans-les-officines-situees-dans-un-rayon-de-10-a-20-km-des-centrales-nucleaires-de-production-d (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Base de données publique des médicaments (ANSM / Ministère de la Santé) — IODURE DE POTASSIUM PHARMACIE CENTRALE DES ARMEES 65 mg, comprimé sécable — https://base-donnees-publique.medicaments.gouv.fr/medicament/69564327/extrait (accessed 2026-10-21)
4. Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) — Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés — https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/documents/SGDSN_Guide_Tous%20responsables.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Base de données publique des médicaments (ANSM / Ministère de la Santé) — Fichier CIS_CPD_bdpm.txt (conditions de prescription et de délivrance) — https://base-donnees-publique.medicaments.gouv.fr/download/file/CIS_CPD_bdpm.txt (accessed 2026-10-21)
6. Base de données publique des médicaments (ANSM / Ministère de la Santé) — IODURE DE POTASSIUM SERB 65 mg, comprimé sécable — https://base-donnees-publique.medicaments.gouv.fr/medicament/67696725/extrait (accessed 2026-10-21)
7. Sénat — Stock et autorisation de commercialisation de comprimés d'iode en cas d'accident nucléaire en Ukraine (question écrite n° 01505, réponse du Ministère de la santé publiée le 19/01/2023) — https://www.senat.fr/questions/base/2022/qSEQ220701505.html (accessed 2026-10-21)
8. Sénat — Leçons de la gestion des masques contre le virus pour la gestion des pastilles d'iode stable face à la radioactivité (question écrite n° 01095, réponse du Ministère de l'intérieur publiée le 24/08/2023) — https://www.senat.fr/questions/base/2022/qSEQ220701095.html (accessed 2026-10-21)
9. Ordre national des pharmaciens (information from the Ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé, 5 March 2022) — Demande en comprimés d'iode : quelles réponses apporter à la population ? — https://www.ordre.pharmacien.fr/les-communications/focus-sur/les-actualites/demande-en-comprimes-d-iode-quelles-reponses-apporter-a-la-population (accessed 2026-10-21)