France said Tuesday (January 23rd) it is sanctioning 25 people and companies over their links to Syria's chemical weapons programme, AFP reported.

The list published in the government's official gazette gave the names and addresses of traders and businesses based mostly in Beirut, Damascus and Paris, as well as a Chinese businessman from the export hub of Guangdong.

The other individuals, who will face asset freezes, were either Syrian, Lebanese or Canadian, with companies working in electronics, metal work, logistics or shipping.

The move came as diplomats from 29 countries met in Paris to push for further sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria.

"France is determined to have those responsible for these horrific war crimes held accountable," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

The companies targeted included Electronic Katrangi Trading, Nktronics and ABC Shipping in Beirut, while another was named as Electronic System Group in Damascus.

France's foreign ministry said they were part of two "supply networks for the Syrian Research and Study Centre (CERS)", which it describes as the "main laboratory in charge of chemical programmes" for the Syrian regime.

Among the three French companies targeted was Smart Pegasus, traced to an address in Paris which was registered in 2014 as an import-export company trading in unspecified goods.