Will California Follow French Model-Health Law?

Models who try to gain work in the state of California will have to obtain a health certificate from their doctor, if new legislation is passed. The law, proposed by California state assembly member Marc Levine, aims to fight eating disorders among fashion models in a similar way to laws recently passed in France.

The bill decrees that California's Department of Public Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board must "adopt rules for the health of fashion models that would include periodic health check-ups, nutrition consultations and medical testing", The Fashion Law reports - but it's not clear how an individual's health will determined, or whether BMI measurements will be used, as in France. It would also - similarly to the French bill - carry penalties for any companies flouting the rules by hiring models who have not been certified fit to work by a health professional.

"The evidence of eating disorders in the modelling industry is alarming," Levine said, while former model-turned-advocate Nikki DuBose supported the legislation with a statement, asserting: "As a former fashion model and an eating-disorder survivor, I know that this legislation is critically needed."

Only France and Israel currently have legal requirements for model health, while other countries - including Italy and Spain - operate a system of self-regulation from within the industry.