Biological pest control

Between 1 and 3.5 million people in France are believed to be allergic to ragweed. Pollen from ragweed, an invasive plant originally from North America, has a major impact on the quality of life of allergy sufferers, causing sneezing, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis and redness or swelling of the eyelids. According to ANSES, the medical care associated with these allergies may cost between €59 million and €186 million per year.  The Agency is involved in preventing and managing its spread. It makes recommendations to optimise the monitoring of this pollen and raise awareness of its effects on health.

Biocontrol is one of the solutions that could facilitate the substitution of synthetic plant protection products by non-chemical alternatives, with a view to achieving the goals of the French Ecophyto 2018 plan to reduce pesticide use. Although they are of natural origin, these plant protection products still have to be scientifically assessed, in terms of their effectiveness and their safety to health and the environment, before they can be placed on the market. ANSES has set up a specific system to give priority to applications concerning biocontrol products, including shorter timeframes for their examination and reduced fees, with the aim of promoting their development.