French deputies voted recently to ban models deemed too thin from appearing on catwalks.

The amendment states: “Anyone whose body mass index… is below a certain level will not be able to work as a catwalk model.”

Under the new guidelines, agencies employing models who are too thin can be fined up to $85,000 and face up to six months in prison.

“The prospect of such a punishment will have the effect of regulating the entire sector,” said Olivier Veran, the deputy proposing the amendment.

France received significant backlash and protests from modeling agencies across the country leading up to and after the decision. The agencies said the new restrictions would limit France’s ability to compete in the global modeling market if “too thin” models were banned.

Health minister Marisol Touraine said, “This is an important message to young women who see these models as an aesthetic example.”