A German company has been found guilty of negligence for giving safety certificates to breast implants that harmed hundreds of thousands of women, according to a Paris court.

Between 2001 and 2010, a French company called Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) made breast implants with silicone that had not been approved for human use. An estimated 400,000 women received the implant in various countries including many who lived in Latin America.

The implants caused serious health problems such as autoimmune diseases and lymph node inflammation and they were six times more likely to rupture. Thousands of the women eventually had them removed.

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One of the victims, named Christine, said at a press conference: "It's a relief … the legal process ends today but it doesn't end here for my health. I still have silicone in my body."

The German safety certification firm TUV Rheinland was found liable for the implants "due to its negligent failures and inaction in its missions and obligations in carrying out the supervision of quality systems."

And it was ordered to pay damages to hundreds of the victims. That decision could also pave the way for thousands more women from around the world to receive compensation for the damage caused by the implants.

A lawyer representing some of the victims, said: "We are thrilled at this outcome, which puts a definitive end to any doubts about TUV's responsibility.

"After 10 years of waiting and a hard fight, the German certification firm will have to fully compensate victims."

A lawyer for TUV told the Paris court that PIP "did everything it could to deceive patients as well as the health authorities and TUV."

But a spokeswoman for German company said after the decision that it will study the ruling before deciding whether to file an appeal. 

After the initial scandal, PIP folded and Jean-Claude Mas, its founder, was fined $82,500 and given a four-year jail sentence.