12/12/2016
2 mins

Renewal of ANSES's ISO 9001 certification

ANSES received ISO 9001 certification in 2013, and it has just been renewed by AFNOR in accordance with the new 2015 version of the standard. This procedure supports the scientific excellence goals of the Agency's expert appraisal work, including responsive action and compliance with the requirements of independence, transparency and openness to society. For the Agency, renewal of the ISO 9001 certificate is confirmation of the dynamism of the process set in motion since its creation, and which is consistent with the priorities set down in its Goals and Performance contract.

ISO 9001 certification was first achieved by ANSES in 2013, and has just been renewed following an audit conducted by AFNOR Certification, to include the Agency’s new tasks (since 2015) for the marketing authorisation of plant protection products, fertilisers, growing media and adjuvants, and those, more recent, for the marketing authorisation of biocidal products and the coordination of vigilance activities (phytopharmacovigilance and toxicovigilance).

It also includes the new requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard, in particular the integration of stakeholder expectations and the notion of risks and opportunities in the Agency's coordination of the quality management system. 

In addition, French standard NF X 50-110 ("General requirements for expert assessment") on the quality of expert assessment was once again included in the audit, and encompasses the constitution of expert groups, the handling of interests, the decision-making process, and traceability.

The renewal of certification also included the work of the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, and ANSES's laboratoriesare currently conducting accreditation procedures with COFRAC for their respective activities[1].

For Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, "Obtaining renewal of this certification is confirmation that the quality procedure implemented by ANSES is a powerful marker of its identity. It is an important catalyst for achieving its goals of scientific excellence, responsiveness and preparedness, in compliance with its independence and its principles of openness to society".

[1]French Accreditation Committee (scope of accreditation available on the ANSES website)