01/07/2010 1 min

Creation of ANSES

The French agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety became a legal and operational entity on 1 July 2010, following the promulgation in the Government Gazette of the Ministerial Order of 8 January 2010 which created it.

The new health establishment, to be referred to by the acronym ANSES (pronounced "An-sess") has incorporated the missions, resources and personnel of the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) and the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (AFSSET). It has also inherited their achievements and values - scientific skills, independent risk assessment, openness in expertise - in order to make them available for a more global and transversal perspective on health issues.

The merger of AFSSA and AFSSET followed extensive consultations and consensus-building. ANSES is already implementing the necessary bodies for its innovative system of governance and for consolidating its work programme. The aim is to ensure that the work undertaken previously by AFSSA and AFSSET is continued while taking full advantage of new synergy.