The administrative court in French Polynesia has, as expected, thrown out 10 of the 12 claims for compensation for ill-health lodged because of the French nuclear weapons tests.
Picture taken in 1971, showing a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll. Photo: AFP
The ruling is in line with last month's expert advice which took into account a law change that reintroduced a minimum figure of radiation exposure.
Earlier this year, the expert advice was to compensate the claimants.
The law change was inserted into the Finance Act in December reportedly to comply with the Public Health Act.
The veterans groups have been dismayed at the law change, saying now no more applications are likely to succeed.
The French Polynesian government has, however, defended the law change and urged opponents to accept the new compensation regime.