Over the last few years, seaweed has become increasingly common on our plates. Fresh, dried or as a food supplement, its iodine content varies and can sometimes be high. ANSES assessed the risk of excess iodine intake from the consumption of seaweed-based products. In view of...

A familiar ingredient for jam-makers, apricot kernels are increasingly being consumed as a natural remedy for their claimed "anti-cancer" properties. While one kernel added to perfume several jars of jam is not a problem, ingesting them in large quantities exposes consumers to...

At a time when its responsibilities are being extended, ANSES is consolidating its position as a protector of public health. With a field of action that covers all the risks to which the population may be exposed on a daily basis, the Agency confirms its scientific expertise...

On 23 July 2018, Agathe Denéchère was appointed Deputy Director General for General Affairs at ANSES. A former student of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, her career is rooted in the field of health and social affairs. Agathe Denéchère will now coordinate ANSES's General...

Cases of allergies associated with the consumption of food supplements are regularly reported to ANSES under its nutrivigilance scheme. Recently, severe allergies following the consumption of food supplements containing hive products (royal jelly, propolis) and pollen have been...

Today ANSES is publishing its health risk assessment on the safety of feminine hygiene products. Chemicals have been identified in these products at very low concentrations not exceeding health thresholds. The expert appraisal did not reveal any risk associated with these...

In a context where prevention of ambient air pollution is a real public health issue, questions are regularly asked about the value of recommending that the population wear personal protective equipment. This led ANSES to assess the potential health benefits of wearing "anti-...

ANSES is taking part in a citizen observation mission targeting the giant ragweed plant (Ambrosia trifida) in partnership with the Tela Botanica Association and the Ragweed Observatory. Ambrosia trifidais an invasive alien species posing a threat to health and agriculture,...

Cases of skin allergies and irritation related to clothing or footwear are regularly reported to the health authorities. Today ANSES is publishing the results of the expert appraisal it conducted to identify the chemicals likely to be found in these articles and possibly...

The European monitoring strategy for air quality relies heavily on quality standards for a number of pollutants. Advances in knowledge on the toxicity of substances and their emissions in the atmosphere have shown that certain pollutants that may have an impact on human health...

ANSES, INERIS and the network of approved air quality monitoring associations (AASQAs) coordinated by ATMO France are today launching a campaign to measure pesticide residues in air. This first national campaign aims to improve knowledge of the pesticides found in ambient air...

The signing of the new framework agreement for the Epidemiological Surveillance Platform for Animal Health (ESA Platform) on 20 June 2018 by the Director General for Food in the presence of Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and eight other members, signals a new departure...

Centrally located in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Laboratory for Food Safety's site specialising in fishery and aquaculture products is expanding! This extension, financed jointly by the Hauts-de-France Region and the local community, underlines ANSES's scientific...

On 4 June, Philippe Reignault was appointed Director of the ANSES Plant Health Laboratory and will also take over from Charles Manceau as Director of Plant Health, with effect from July. Professor of Plant Biology and Diseases at the Littoral Côte d'Opale University since 2010...

At the 35th French occupational medicine and health congress (CNMST) held in Marseille from 5 to 8 June 2018, ANSES presented for the very first time data on cancers of occupational origin collected by the National Network for Monitoring and Prevention of Occupational Diseases (...

In 2016, as part of the implementation of the Act "for the restoration of biodiversity, nature and landscapes” and as requested by the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Ecology, ANSES initiated an assessment weighing up the risks and benefits of plant protection products...

While Bacillus cereus is well known as a source of food infections, researchers from INRA and ANSES, working with doctors at nine French hospitals[1] including those in the Paris Public Hospital System (AP-HP), have demonstrated for the first time that this bacterium is also...

Every year, ANSES brings together all the French holders of the national reference laboratory and European Union reference laboratory mandates, with support from the Joint Laboratory Service of the fraud control and customs services. This delegation day aims to improve...

As Reference Delegation Day is held at ANSES, bringing together representatives of national and European reference laboratories, Gilles Salvat, Managing Director General for Research and Reference, gives us an overview of this essential part of ANSES's work. What do you mean...

The return of warmer weather is particularly conducive to walks in natural surroundings, including woods and forests, as well as activities in the garden. It is therefore a good time to recall the precautions to take in order to avoid tick bites – also unfortunately in season....

ANSES and the DGCCRF are alerting consumers to the risks associated with making and handling "slime". Slime, a sticky and elastic putty for kneading, is currently very popular with children and adolescents. It is commercially available in ready-to-use form or in kits. It can...

Today, the Agency is publishing an inventory of alternatives to antibiotics aimed at reducing their use in animal husbandry and based on an original method for evaluating the diverse scientific publications in the field. In its report, ANSES identifies numerous products and...

Basing itself on philosophical, social and legal interpretations of the concept of animal welfare, this Opinion proposes a definition of animal welfare that takes into account developments in scientific knowledge and summarises analyses by experts regarding the methods required...

ANSES's Laboratory for Food Safety in Maisons-Alfort has just been appointed National Reference Laboratory for the detection of "foodborne viruses in foodstuffs of animal origin excluding shellfish". This new mandate, which is a major step forward in strengthening public health...

ANSES has examined several marketing authorisation applications for products containing creosote, a biocidal product currently used to treat and prolong the life of railway sleepers, telephone and electricity posts, fences and enclosures (in agricultural, equestrian or roadside...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on the risks induced by climate change on worker health. The expert appraisal adopted a future-oriented approach that looked ahead to the middle of the 21st Century, and sought to characterise the interactions between...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), in collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), is organising a conference on 23-24 April 2018 in Paris...

In an article published recently in the press, several scientists drew attention to the potential health risks of using succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides in agriculture. This led ANSES to call on its experts to consider all the available scientific data on this...

The return of spring is synonymous with that of parasites such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes that can cause serious diseases in animals as well as diseases transmissible to humans. To protect our domestic animals, the use of ectoparasiticides is an effective solution. These...

Under the national nutrivigilance scheme, reports of adverse effects likely to be associated with the consumption of food supplements containing melatonin have been brought to the attention of ANSES. A retrospective analysis of these reports, combined with the considerable level...

Since 2004, the Agency has been working on a national programme for toxicity reference values (TRVs). TRVs are biological indicators used to qualify or quantify, on a scientific basis, a risk to human health associated with exposure to a chemical substance. They are useful for...

Through its Maisons-Alfort Laboratory for Animal Health, ANSES has just been appointed Reference Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for foot-and-mouth disease and vesicular diseases. This new mandate expands the reference activities of...

Today the Agency is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on hypersensitivity to electromagnetic waves. This work drew on all the available scientific literature, as well as on numerous hearings with hospital and general practitioners, researchers, associations, and the...

Today the Agency is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on the health risks associated with the consumption of wild game and the environmental chemical contaminants (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs, cadmium and lead) found in both wild and farmed game. While...

Today, ANSES is publishing the list of projects selected as part of its three 2017 calls for research projects for the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health: the first for projects on a general theme, the second on the theme of "Radiofrequencies...

Under the Act "for the restoration of biodiversity, nature and landscapes", ANSES undertook work to assess chemical and non-chemical alternatives to the use of plant protection preparations containing neonicotinoids, for which the final report will be published in the second...

In the presence of Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy and Finance, Stéphane Travert, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition, Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and Philippe Mauguin...

Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and Michel Combes, President of the French Federation of Health Protection Groups (GDS France), today signed a framework partnership agreement designed to strengthen the analytical reference scheme for Category 2 and 3 animal health...

Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and François Jacq, CEO of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), have today signed a framework partnership agreement for a five-year period. This will enable the two agencies to reinforce their cooperation on...

On 26 February 2018, Roger Genet and Olivier Thibault, respectively Directors General of ANSES and the National Office for Hunting and Wildlife (ONCFS), signed the third framework agreement for the partnership between the two institutions. The renewal of their collaboration...

ANSES has submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for phosphine to be classified for its toxicity following acute inhalation exposure (Category 1). It was submitted for public consultation on the ECHA website on 12 February 2018 for a period of 60 days, to...

Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, considers the issue of chemical contaminants in fruit and vegetables, which does not necessarily translate into a risk for the consumer. He explains how the Agency goes about monitoring the presence of pesticide residues in food, assessing...

On 1 February 2018, Matthew Schuler was appointed Risk Assessment Director of ANSES. A graduate of the prestigious Ecole des Mines, he had been Strategy Director at the French Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute (IRSN) since September 2011. As ANSES's Risk Assessment...

Like every year, ANSES will be at the Paris International Agricultural Show (SIA), a key annual event providing the opportunity to meet with its partners and the general public. As an agency responsible for health risk assessment, ANSES participates fully in this event, to...

On 5 February 2018, Nicolas Eterradossi was appointed Director of the Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory. Nicolas Eterradossi is a veterinary doctor, holder of a university doctorate in microbiology from the Institut Supérieur des Productions Animales (Higher Institute for Livestock...

Gilles Salvat, currently Director for Animal Health and Welfare at ANSES, has since 1 February 2018 also been responsible for the Research and Reference Division. A veterinary doctor, doctor in microbiology, and inspector general for veterinary public health, Gilles Salvat has...

Today, ANSES is publishing the first in a series of fact sheets summarising the data it collects for each active substance under the phytopharmacovigilance scheme it coordinates. The aim of phytopharmacovigilance is to be able to take swift action on a product's marketing...

The European Joint Programme (EJP) on "One Health", selected by the European Commission in October, was officially launched this week at a meeting bringing together the project partners, as well as the French Ministries of Health, Agriculture & Food, and Research, the...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the Belgian Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CERVA) have jointly been appointed European Union Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease.This French-Belgian consortium,...

At the start of this new year, Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, takes stock of 2017, a year marked by major developments for the Agency, and lays out the priorities for 2018. "Please accept our very best wishes for this new year, both from myself and on behalf of ANSES...

ANSES is today issuing a call for applications in order to renew ten of its independent expert groups in the areas of food, nutrition, animal feed, animal health and welfare, and plant health. Nominations for these groups, open to scientists from a variety of disciplines, must...

ANSES was asked to report on the current state of knowledge regarding the health impact of pollen and mould allergens in the ambient air on the general population of France’s overseas regions and départements (DROMs): Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion and Mayotte....

Chlordecone was used for many years in the banana plantations of Martinique and Guadeloupe to combat weevils, a serious insect pest for banana crops. This pesticide, which is very persistent and highly bioaccumulative, has been prohibited since 1993. However, its persistence...

Several cases of poisoning in young children (including one that was serious) resulting from the ingestion of button batteries from luminous fidget spinners have been reported by the French poison control centres. These cases illustrate the importance for parents to prevent...

The new website dedicated to ANSES's Ciqual table, the reference database on the nutritional composition of foods, is now online. The website interface has been completely redesigned, and its new features now give users faster access to their searches and enable them to sign up...

Under the national nutrivigilance scheme, reports of adverse effects likely to be associated with the consumption of food supplements containing spirulina have been brought to the attention of ANSES. These reports led ANSES to assess the risks associated with the consumption of...

By an Order issued in summary proceedings, the Court of Nice has ordered the suspension of two marketing authorisations issued by ANSES in September for the products Closer and Transform. The Agency takes note of this Decision.   By a decision dated 27 September 2017, ANSES...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on assessment of the health risks to professionals exposed to products used in fingernail care and decoration. In view of the many substances to which these professionals are exposed, the Agency is issuing a series of...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of an expert appraisal on the treatment of drinking water with orthophosphates to limit lead dissolution. The Agency concludes that treatment with orthophosphates is one possible collective protection measure, but is not in itself sufficient...

The critical issue of the growth in antimicrobial resistance in animal and human bacteria requires an integrated approach across all types of medicine, in line with the implementation of a "One Health" approach. ANSES plays a very active role in the fight against antimicrobial...

Each year, as part of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), ANSES issues its calls for research projects on environmental and occupational health themes. For the 2018 edition of PNR EST, two calls for projects are being issued today...

On 24 October 2017, ANSES withdrew the marketing authorisation for the only plant protection product containing glufosinate authorised in France, Basta F1, marketed by Bayer SAS, as well as the import permits for products containing it. Following a re-examination of the...

The European Joint Programme (EJP) on "One Health", coordinated by ANSES with the participation of more than 40 partners from 19 Member States, was approved by the European Commission and will start on 1 January 2018. Through its role in the design and implementation of this...

By its decision dated 27 September 2017, ANSES issued marketing authorisations for two plant protection products containing the active substance sulfoxaflor, CLOSER and TRANSFORM, marketed by DOW Agroscience SAS, subject to strong restrictions on their conditions of use....

In view of the sharp increase in the number of serious cases of poisoning associated with the consumption of wild mushrooms reported to the Poison Control and Monitoring Centres (CAP-TVs), ANSES, the Directorate General for Health (DGS) and the CAP-TVs are issuing a warning to...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its collective expert appraisal aimed at proposing arrangements for implementing national surveillance of pesticides in ambient air in metropolitan France and the overseas départements and regions (DROM). Based on a list of 90 priority...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its analysis of air purification techniques based on the principles of plasma, catalysis and photocatalysis, ozone generation and ionisation. Over the last few years, equipment has appeared on the market that claims to have indoor air...

Under the terms of the National Endocrine Disruptor Strategy (SNPE), ANSES has published the results of its assessment of five chemical substances suspected of being endocrine disruptors. The Agency has also published its latest work concerning the assessment of the health risks...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its "Annual monitoring of sales of veterinary medicinal products containing antimicrobials in France for 2016", a survey carried out by the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products. In 2016, 530 tonnes of antimicrobials were used...

The annual Fête de la Science (Science Festival) is the ideal event for promoting scientific research and its various professions. As a health agency with eleven research and reference laboratories, ANSES participates fully in this festival, giving the public a special insight...

ANSES and the Technical and Scientific Institute for Beekeeping and Pollination (ITSAP) have signed a partnership agreement to strengthen their collaboration in the area of phytopharmacovigilance. This three-year agreement will help better identify the adverse effects of plant...

In response to an increase in the number of cases of poisonings due to mushroom consumption reported to the French Poison Control and Monitoring Centres (CAPTVs), ANSES, the Directorate General for Health (DGS) and the CAPTVs are issuing a warning to wild mushroom gatherers and...

ANSES and the Belgian Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA) have renewed the framework agreement that has linked them since 2009, as well as the agreement concerning scientific collaboration on foot and mouth disease and bluetongue. The two agencies will thus...

In June 2016, ANSES published an expert appraisal on the specific exposures and health risks to which sewage workers are subjected, concluding that there are long-term health effects associated with the working conditions in sewers. Today the Agency is presenting additional...

At the International Livestock Trade Fair (SPACE) on Tuesday 12 September, Inra, Irstea, ANSES, Agrocampus Ouest, the University of Southern Brittany and the University of Rennes 1 signed a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a Scientific Interest Group to be known...

ANSES has now published its health risk assessment concerning the ingestion of eggs contaminated with fipronil, the active substance in insecticides and acaricides fraudulently used in holdings in Belgium and the Netherlands. In the light of the available data on the toxicity of...

Since 2005, ANSES has been responsible for the scientific appraisals required for the establishment of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) based on health criteria. In the first half of 2017, ANSES published several collective expert appraisal reports for products as part of...

A risk of confusion between the medication Lytos and the food supplement Lithos has been reported when dispensing these products in pharmacies. The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) and the French Agency for Food, Environmental and...

The Signalement-Tique application is available now and can be downloaded free of charge for use with iOS and Android smartphones. With this app, INRA and ANSES, in conjunction with the French Ministry of Health and Solidarity, are recruiting volunteers to participate in research...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of INCA 3, its third study on the food consumption and eating habits of the French population. More than 5800 people (3157 adults between the ages of 18 and 79 years and 2698 children between the ages of 0 and 17 years) participated in this...

Today, ANSES is publishing a new opinion in response to a formal request to assess population exposure to the electromagnetic fields emitted by smart meters, on the basis of new scientific data. In December 2016, in view of the available data, the Agency concluded that there was...

In February 2017, ANSES submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to classify bisphenol A (BPA) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) within the framework of the European REACh regulation, based on its “endocrine-disrupting” properties which cause...

Under the national nutrivigilance scheme, overseen by ANSES, cases of neonatal hypercalcaemia and congenital hypothyroidism involving food supplements for pregnant women have been reported. These reports led ANSES to assess the risks associated with the consumption of food...

Knowledge of the health and environmental effects of pollution of ambient air by chemicals has been well established for some years now. Since 1996, the Member States of the European Union have been required to implement measures for monitoring, assessing and controlling ambient...

ANSES has been the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for equine diseases since 2008. The European Union recently decided to renew the mandate for five years, acknowledging the quality of the work performed in ANSES laboratories and the Agency’s commitment to horse...

The Act on the future of agriculture, food and forestry of 13 October 2014 entrusted ANSES with establishing a phytopharmacovigilance scheme. Its aim is to identify potential adverse reactions to the use of plant protection products affecting human, animal and plant health,...

Mineral oils (mineral oil hydrocarbons - MOHs) are complex mixtures derived from crude oil consisting of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSHs) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAHs). Because they are found in the inks or adhesives of paper and cardboard food...

In 2015 ANSES was asked to conduct an expert assessment on gaseous fumes emitted by decaying Sargassum seaweed. In March 2016, the Agency recommended implementing measures to protect the general public and workers in charge of collecting, transporting and processing Sargassum...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) today launches a new version of its on-line declaration website for veterinary pharmacovigilance. This website was created to collect reports of adverse effects linked to, or potentially...

E171 is a food additive used as a colouring and made up of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles, partially in nanometric form. A study published in January 2017 showed that chronic exposure of rats to E171 may cause precancerous colorectal lesions. ANSES received a request to...

ANSES has submitted a proposed classification for granulated copper to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in accordance with the European CLP Regulation (on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures). This proposal has been the subject of a public...

ANSES has submitted a classification proposal for diisooctyl phthalate as toxic for reproduction, category 1B for fertility and development, to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This proposal has been open for public consultation on the ECHA website since 14 March 2017, to...

ANSES has submitted a classification proposal for 2-methoxyethyl acrylate to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in line with the CLP regulation (classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances). This proposal has been open for public consultation on the ECHA...

During a visit on 17 March 2017 by a delegation from ANSES to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa, Dr. Primal Silva, the Acting Vice-President and Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning scientific cooperation. Its...

On 22 March 2017, ANSES and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding. In doing so, the two organisations join forces to achieve a common goal: improved understanding and mitigation of the impact of the...

Today ANSES is publishing the results of its assessment of health effects related to low-frequency sounds (20 Hz to 200 Hz) and infrasounds (below 20 Hz) emitted by wind farms. The expert appraisal undertaken by the Agency made it possible, on the one hand, to measure and...

As part of the implementation of the Act "for the restoration of biodiversity, nature and landscapes", ANSES received a formal request from the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct an assessment weighing up the risks and benefits of plant protection preparations containing...

Today ANSES is publishing the conclusions of its expert appraisal on the health risks related to the use of devices intended for the performance of aesthetic procedures (hair removal and lipolysis). In light of the effects observed and reported in various clinical studies, ANSES...

Following an internal request, ANSES is today publishing its opinion on the assessment of the safety and effectiveness of water filter jugs. The data currently available do not indicate any risk for consumer health. The Agency concludes, however, that the use of water filter...

Today, the Agency is publishing its opinion on the assessment of the health risks associated with the use of rainwater for washing laundry in the home. The recovery and use of rainwater for domestic purposes have been on the increase over the past few years, with the aim of...

The Paris International Agricultural Show is an important annual showcase for ANSES. Each year, it gives the Agency an opportunity to come and meet the public and offer them comprehensive information on its health and safety recommendations. For this 54th edition of the Show,...

ANSES is today publishing its Opinion on the relevance of nutrition information programmes (NIPs) for consumers. The work involved assessing the potential impact of the implementation of such systems on the reduction in the incidence of certain diseases in the entire population...

Several hundred French and foreign scientists work with ANSES on appraisals in the fields of food, environmental and occupational safety, animal health and well-being, and plant health, with the priority being to protect consumers, workers and the environment. The Agency is...

Professor Isabelle Momas has been appointed chairwoman of the Scientific Board of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, by decree of the Ministers of the Environment, Health, Labour, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, and following the...

Today, ANSES is presenting its work programme for 2017. Changes in consumption modes and habits, the development of new technologies, the presence of multiple sources of contamination in the general environment or in the workplace, and changes in factors relating to the...

Today, ANSES is publishing its opinions and reports on the updating of the food consumption guidelines for the French adult population. This work aimed to formulate, for the first time, consumption guidelines for the main food groups in order to meet the nutritional requirements...

By Presidential Decree dated 17 January 2017, Luc Derepas, State Councillor, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Administrators of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). He succeeds Professor Didier Houssin, who had been...

ANSES publishes the results of its two 2016 calls for research projects for the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health, the first on a general topic, and the second devoted to the subject of "Radiofrequencies and health". At the end of the selection...

The national nutrivigilance scheme, managed by ANSES, collects reports of adverse effects likely to be related to the consumption of food supplements for athletes. These reports, and the widespread consumption in several sports disciplines of these types of products, which aim...

Act No. 2015-992 of 17 August 2015 on the energy transition for green growth authorises the deployment of smart meters throughout France capable of the day-to-day transmission of electricity and gas consumption readings to energy suppliers. Water distribution companies have also...

ANSES is today publishing the 2016 CIQUAL table, the reference tool for the nutritional composition of foods, available free of charge on the Internet. Many new data have been added. The CIQUAL table now provides a detailed nutritional profile covering 61 different constituents...

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...

ANSES, BRGM, IFSTTAR, INERIS, IRSN, IRSTEA andSanté publique France today sign a charter for openness to society. Despite their diversity, these seven public organisations all fulfil a common role in the general interest: assessment of risks in the areas of health and the...

Since its creation, ANSES's Sophia Antipolis Laboratory has established itself as a national and international reference in bee and ruminant health. Indeed, since 1976, it has been awarded five national, European and international reference mandates for bee health and bee...

Resistance to antimicrobials is recognised as a major human and veterinary health problem at the international level. ANSES has long been an active player in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, and every year since 2009 it has organised a science day devoted to this...

Each year, as part of the National Research Program on Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), ANSES issues its calls for research projects focused on environmental and occupational health themes. For the 2017 edition of PNR EST, three calls for projects are being...

Since the beginning of October, 87 cases of poisoning associated with the consumption of mushrooms, including three serious cases, have been reported to the poison control centres. In response to the increase in the number of cases, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and...

Manuelle Vertot, Head of ANSES's Legal Affairs Unit, has been appointed as the Agency's ethics officer, in application of the Decree of 10 June 2016 on the presence of an ethics officer within health authorities and organisations. She takes on this new mission for a three-year...

Today ANSES publishes the results of its expert assessment on the health risks of oral exposure to several chemicals found in plastic toys and materials likely to be mouthed by infants and children under three years of age. For four of the substances studied which are...

iCube, ANSES's new infectious disease research facility, is being inaugurated today. Those attending the event include Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture, Valérie Pécresse, President of the Ile-de-France regional council, Michel Herbillon, Mayor of Maisons-Alfort and...

Like every year, in celebration of France's National Science Festival, ANSES's research and reference laboratories open their doors and offer a variety of different activities. From 1 to 16 October 2016, the scientists working at these laboratories invite the public to discover...

Today the Agency is publishing an initial snapshot of dietary exposure of children under three years of age to a vast number of substances. The infant total diet study (iTDS) in fact covers more than 95% of the diet of babies and toddlers, with around 670 substances being...

Today, ANSES publishes the results of its expert assessment of mould in buildings, a major issue for public health due to mould’s established effects on respiratory health, the large proportion of housing affected and the identification of population groups highly susceptible to...

In May 2016, ANSES received a formal request to propose criteria for defining endocrine disruptors (EDs). On 15 June 2016, while this request was being examined, the European Commission (EC) published a proposal for criteria for identifying EDs, which had been expected since...

In France, more than a million professionals in the agricultural sector are potentially exposed to pesticides. In 2011, ANSES issued an internal request to conduct a collective expert appraisal aiming to identify, assess and characterise the exposure of agricultural workers to...

Today ANSES launches a public consultation of its draft report on electromagnetic hypersensitivity or idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields. Members of the scientific community, physicians and interested stakeholders are invited to provide...

Following several reports of serious adverse effects related to the veterinary drug VELACTIS®, ANSES has suspended the use of this medicine. The Agency has asked veterinarians to no longer prescribe VELACTIS®. A recall of all batches has been initiated and farmers are invited to...

During the visit to ANSES headquarters of a NIFDS delegation, the two Directors General, Dr. Yeowon SOHN and Dr. Roger GENET, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 12 July 2016. The signature of the MoU takes place during France-Korea year, 2015-2016, which celebrates...

The Euroreference magazine is now available in a new format, produced jointly by a group of agencies from several Member States of the European Union. Euroreference is a European journal created by ANSES in 2009. It deals specifically with reference activities in the areas of...

It was a little late this year, but summer has finally arrived. Barbecues, deck chairs and parasols have all reappeared in our gardens. ANSES offers its advice on how to enjoy the benefits of the sun without the dangers.   Protect yourself effectively The sun has beneficial...

ANSES is today publishing an expert appraisal on the exposure of children to radiofrequencies and the potential effects on their health. In its conclusions, the Agency emphasises that children can be more exposed than adults because of their morphological and anatomical features...

ANSES is today broadening its sphere of competence by taking over management of marketing authorisations (MAs) for biocidal products and responsibility for declarations to the biocidal products inventory (SIMMBAD). The Agency will build on the organisation it set up in July 2015...

ANSES's Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest, which was renewed in April 2016, assumed its functions on 22 June. Pierre Le Coz, associate professor in philosophy, doctor in life sciences and health, and Director of the Department of Human...

ANSES received a formal request to assess the health risks for professionals exposed to atypical working hours, in particular night work, whether regular or irregular. The Agency’s expert appraisal identified proven risks of sleep disorders and metabolic disorders, and probable...

ANSES is publishing an expert appraisal on the specific exposures and health risks to which sewer workers are subjected. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the scientific literature highlighting exposure to multiple chemical and biological agents, including carcinogenic,...

ANSES is today withdrawing 132 authorisations for products combining the active substance glyphosate with the co-formulant POE-tallowamine, following a re-examination of their marketing authorisations. The Agency had identified an issue of concern regarding the co-formulants in...

In France, more than 95% of catchment systems for the production of water intended for human consumption use groundwater. With climate change, the increasing frequency and intensity of weather events such as droughts or intense rainfall will affect water resources. This change...

Enlargement of its field of competence, rapid mobilisation of scientists to respond to different health events, numerous publications – 2015 was a particularly busy year for ANSES. The Agency's Annual Report is now available online, along with the first report devoted to its...

The risk of electromagnetic interference with certain medical devices, generated by mobile telephones, has long been a subject of discussion. The use of mobile telephones in any place and at any time by a majority of the population is common practice, including by health...

ANSES has submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for titanium dioxide to be classified as a Category 1B carcinogen by inhalation. Since 31 May 2016, this proposal has been the subject of a public consultation on the ECHA website to enable interested...

On 1 July 2016, ANSES will be given a new mission, currently the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment: issuing marketing authorisations (MAs) for biocidal products. The Agency has prepared some proposed guidelines on reaching decisions relating to marketing...

Roger Genet has been appointed Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, thereby succeeding Marc Mortureux. As Director General of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Research since March 2012, and a former...

Created in 1901, the Maisons-Alfort Laboratory for Animal Health, one of the world's oldest laboratories specialising in the study of infectious animal diseases, celebrates its 115th anniversary this year. This event, incorporated into the celebrations to mark the 250th...

ANSES has submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for methylmercury chloride to be classified as toxic to reproduction Category 1A, mutagenic Category 2, carcinogenic Category 2 and for specific target organ toxicity (nervous system, kidney) Category 1. This...

The French Act of 26 January 2016 on the modernisation of the health system provides for optional information, in the form of graphics or symbols placed on packaging, that summarises certain data on nutritional quality, with a view to improving consumer information. Two food...

The ANSES Scientific Board, which is independent and made up exclusively of scientists, of whom more than a quarter are foreign experts, guarantees the scientific quality and independence of its expert appraisals. The Scientific Board is renewed every three years and its...

Since August 2014, successive waves of Sargassum seaweed have been washing up on the  coastlines of the French West Indies and French Guiana. Despite the efforts made to clean it up, this seaweed decomposes in situ. This leads to the production of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which...

ANSES is today launching the new version of the E-Phy database, the reference website for all plant protection products, adjuvants, fertilisers and growing media – and their uses – authorised in France. The new E-Phy website has kept the same structure and concept as the...

The National Programme for Nutrition and Health, or PNNS, aims to improve the state of the nation's health by acting on diet and physical activity, which are major determinants of nutrition. ANSES was asked to investigate these issues by the Directorate General for Health, with...

The World Health Organization recommends certain deltamethrin-impregnated mosquito nets to avoid the transmission of vector-borne diseases spread by mosquitoes. In France, these mosquito nets are not covered by any marketing authorisation, so they cannot be used in compliance...

On the occasion of the 53rd International Agricultural Show in Paris, ANSES is inviting the public to come and discover the scientific world of its laboratories by offering entertaining and informative workshops for the whole family. You will thus be able to learn, for...

ANSES has submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for potassium permanganate to be classified as toxic for reproduction, Category 1B. Since 17 February 2016, this proposal has been the subject of a public consultation on the ECHA website to give all...

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a substance used as a preservative in many commercial mixtures such as detergents, paints and varnishes, and also in mixtures for professional use. It is also found in cosmetic products: its presence must then be mentioned on the packaging. Over...

Following publication of the results of the assessment conducted at European level as part of the procedure to renew the approval granted to the active substance glyphosate, and the conflicting results of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that concluded that...

On the occasion of the State visit to India of the President of the French Republic, Mr François Hollande, ANSES and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India signed an agreement to promote exchanges on health risk analysis methodologies and laboratory techniques in the...

The Niort Laboratory, which specialises in diseases in ruminants, now has a new health mission contributing to the certification of French herds: it becomes the reference for detection of bovine hypodermosis (or "warble"). Bovine hypodermosis is a disease with a high economic...

ANSES has published its conclusions on the risks to bees and other pollinators presented by insecticides based on neonicotinoids. It was asked to investigate this issue by the Ministers of Ecology, Agriculture and Health. The Agency recalls that in the absence of appropriate...

(Soon In English) Le 26 février 2013, l’Anses signait son premier contrat d’objectifs et de performance (COP) pour la période 2012-2015. Ce contrat précise les priorités stratégiques de l’Agence et consolide ses missions de veille, d’expertise, de recherche et de référence. Il...

Each year, around one third of the foodborne disease outbreaks reported in France occur in the family environment. Some of these cases are due to domestic practices (inadequate preservation, insufficient cooking or contaminant transfer). Improvements within certain sectors, as...

Colistin is an antibiotic used in veterinary medicine, particularly in the livestock sector. In human medicine, because of its toxicity, it is only prescribed for the treatment of severe human infections involving bacteria resistant to all other therapeutic options (including...

Cleavage fragments are mineral particles naturally present in rocks used, among other purposes, in public engineering works (road surfacing). Through their chemical composition and their dimensions, some of these can be considered comparable to asbestos fibres. While the effects...

Control of animal diseases is a major problem for the public authorities. Whether for public health or economic reasons, it is essential to control the main diseases in order to protect both animal and human populations, since certain animal diseases can be transmitted to humans...

As part of his official visit to France, the President of Mongolia, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, travelled to Maisons-Alfort to visit the Alfort National Veterinary School (ENVA) and ANSES. He was accompanied by Marc Mortureux, Director General of ANSES, and had the opportunity to...

On November 18 2015, Jean-Pierre Orand, Director of the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV), a part of ANSES, and Xuepeng Cai, Director General of the Institute of Veterinary Drug Control (IVDC) of the People's Republic of China, signed an extension of the...

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is today publishing the conclusions of its assessment as part of the procedure to renew the ten-year approval granted to the active substance glyphosate at European level. On the basis of a thorough study by the German risk assessment...

To mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day, ANSES today hosted a half-day event to discuss antimicrobial resistance and its impact on human and animal health. On this occasion, the Agency is publishing the results of a national campaign to monitor sales of veterinary medicinal...

Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and Li Jiayang, President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding strengthening their cooperation...

In a press release issued today, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the consumption of red meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse and goat) as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) and that of processed meat (after salting, curing,...

The use of flame retardants (FRs) in mattresses and upholstered furniture to reduce the risk of domestic fires has been a matter of debate for several years. The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) asked ANSES to investigate the...

One of ANSES’s missions is to organise and support research. This is most notably reflected in the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR-EST) that it runs, an essential resource for acquiring the knowledge necessary to assist the authorities...

Like each year, in celebration of France's National Science Festival, ANSES's research and reference laboratory scientists open their doors to bring science closer to the general public. From 7 to 11 October 2015, they are inviting the public to discover their everyday...

As part of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls' official visit to Japan, Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), and Dr. Hiroshi Satoh, Chairperson of the Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ),...

Autumn is a time for walks in the woods with a basket for gathering mushrooms.  Every year, approximately one thousand cases of poisoning occur in France due to the consumption of wild mushrooms. Here are some recommendations for reaping the pleasures of mushroom foraging...

In the context of its new activities for the market authorisation of plant protection products, fertilisers and growing media and the monitoring of their impact, ANSES is adding a new member to its General Directorate with the appointment of Françoise Weber as the Deputy...

ANSES issued a formal internal request in 2012 on the co-exposure of bees to various stress factors and their respective roles in bee colony weakening, collapse and mortality, with an emphasis on the interactions between these factors.  The results of the expert assessment...

Air quality has been a subject of concern for many years and has now become a major public health issue. After major studies on outdoor air, ANSES has become highly involved in the quality of indoor air as well. Among the risks linked to pollutants in these environments,...

Air quality in underground railway areas has been a subject of concern for a number of years. Due to the air pollution that has been found in underground railway areas and the amount of time that workers spend there during their work hours, questions have been raised regarding...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), a major player in animal health and well-being, will be at the SPACE International Livestock Fair in Rennes from 15 to 18 September. The afternoon of 16 September will be an opportunity for...

OQALI, jointly managed by ANSES and INRA, collects the nutritional information found on the packaging of processed foods. With over 35 000 items listed, almost all of the food industry sectors are now covered. Several reports have been published today, including a study...

The presence of drug residues in water has been a key subject for both the health authorities and the scientific community for a number of years. ANSES has been working on this topic since 2006, and in 2013 it proposed a general method for assessing the health risks of drug...

For the Fête de la Mer ("Sea Days Celebration"), ANSES and the Nord-Pas de Calais regional council signed a memorandum of cooperation on 10 July 2015 before the Mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, also a member of the French Parliament. The aim of this memorandum is to pool resources to...

It was a busy year for ANSES both in terms of scientific output and institutional activities. The ANSES activity report published today provides a detailed account of the events and achievements of 2014, and illustrates the Agency's wide range of activities.    2014 was an...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), created by the merger, in 2010, of the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) and the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (AFSSET), is today celebrating its fifth...

Since 2010, ANSES has been carrying out its risk assessment, reference and research missions in the areas of human, animal and plant health guided by two essential principles: rigour and independence of its scientific expertise; transparency and openness, respecting the role of...

ANSES's Fougères Laboratory is celebrating its 40-year anniversary today. It specialises in screening for veterinary drug residues in food, bacterial resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants, and toxicology. This event is an opportunity to look back on the last 40 years which...

Summer has arrived and with it, backyard barbecues and lounge chairs. Sunglasses, sunscreen, plenty of water to drink and light eating are your best friends. They will help you to take full advantage of the summer heat and sun. Children and the elderly are more sensitive to the...

On 3 June, ANSES was appointed reference laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for foot and mouth disease, a major disease that, due to the direct losses it can engender, requires increased vigilance by health authorities. OIE reference laboratories are...

Today ANSES launches a public consultation of its pre-final report on the assessment of health risks for children associated with exposure to radiofrequency waves. Members of the scientific community and interested stakeholders are invited to provide their comments on the report...

At the request of the Minister of social affairs and health, Professor Serge Hercberg submitted a report in January 2014 that recommends France-wide implementation of a nutritional information programme based on the Rayner's score system developed for the UK's Food Standards...

In the context of the French law on the future of agriculture, food and forestry of 13 October 2014, ANSES will soon be taking on new responsibilities which were formerly performed by the Ministry of Agriculture, namely the issuing of marketing authorisations (MAs) for plant...

In a sustainable development context which aims to preserve water resources and save water in general, the recycling of greywater is a topic that often comes up. The recycling of treated greywater, which involves the collection, treatment and reuse of water from showers,...

The consumption of insects as food, also known as entomophagy, is a widespread practice in many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, Latin America), where it is sometimes an integral part of traditional eating habits. To meet the challenge of feeding the planet in 2030, the United...

Worldwide, France ranks very high with regard to food safety. However in light of the globalisation of trade, new consumer habits and the diversity of the food offer, great vigilance is required to prevent risks, especially emerging ones, in the food sector. These risks must be...

This year, World Health Day will be held on April 7th. Organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), its focus will be on food safety, which is one of ANSES's primary topics. From farm to fork, we all have a part to play in food safety. In the context of this event, the...

Construction materials, furniture and decoration products can be sources of indoor pollution due to the potentially harmful chemicals they sometimes release.  Several European countries, including France, have drafted protocols and lowest concentrations of interest (LCIs) in...

On 9 February 2015, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched a public consultation on its web site regarding substitution of the active biocidal substance PHMB, used mainly as a disinfectant and preservative. This consultation follows on from the assessment conducted by...

On 4 March 2015, The French Agency for Food, Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety (ANSES) and the French Institute for Research and Security (INRS) signed a partnership agreement which strengthens the ties they have established over several years for the assessment...

Silver nanoparticles are used in various industrial applications, in sectors such as food (additives, food packaging, internal linings of refrigerators), textiles (clothing and bedding) and cosmetic and hygiene products (toothbrushes, hair straighteners, disinfectant sprays, etc...

This year will be marked by a broadening of the Agency's field of competence with a new mission: the issuing of marketing authorisations for plant protection products, fertilisers and growing media, with effect from July 2015. Among the new challenges to be faced is the...

On 26 February 2015, Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and Jean-Paul Dalies, President of FREDON France (National Federation for control of harmful organisms) have signed a framework...

ANSES and INERIS today have signed a cooperation agreement with AgroParisTech, at the International Agricultural Show in Paris, to set up a new training module for engineering students. Under the agreement, the three agencies will train engineers to understand current...

Changing dietary behaviour and consumption patterns have prompted industry to offer innovative solutions in the field of food packaging, in particular linked with nomadic lifestyles, the convenience of packaging or its environmental impact. In the framework of a research &...

Guides to good hygiene practice (GGHP) and the application of HACCP (1) principles are drafted to help agrifood professionals control the safety of the products they manufacture and to help them comply with regulatory obligations. These reference documents are written by the...

This year, as always, ANSES will be at the Paris International Agricultural Show, and we invite you all to take a headlong plunge into the fascinating world of our scientific experts.  Learn about the water cycle, microbiological food risks and the role of insects in the...

ANSES, via the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV), has just made available on its website a new version of the index of veterinary medicinal products authorised in France. This index provides access to the Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs), as well...

In the framework of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls's official visit to China, ANSES Director General Marc Mortureux signed a cooperation agreement with the Agency's Chinese counterpart, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA). The cooperation...

On 6 February 2015, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) will launch its Pesti'home study, conducted by the  French Observatory for Pesticide Residues (ORP), in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion Island. The aim of this study,...

To conduct its risk appraisals and draft its recommendations, ANSES relies on 18 expert committees (CESs) and undertakes scientific expert assessments which are independent, multidisciplinary, collective and adversarial. Today, the Agency launches six public calls for...

In 2014, following its large-scale study, EFSA submitted for consultation an interim report on the health risks of bisphenol A (BPA). ANSES contributed to the consultation by emphasising the extensive work conducted by the European authority while pointing out certain...

Aspartame, stevia extracts, sucralose and acesulfame K... Intense sweeteners are a group of calorie-free food additives with a very high sweetening power. While the safety of intense sweetener use has regularly undergone in-depth assessment, this ANSES assessment is the first...

For several years, a phenomenon resulting in the weakening and mortality of bee colonies has been observed in many countries. Various factors can affect bee health, alone or synergistically – infectious diseases and parasites, stress due to changes in food resources, exposure to...

Following a recent report of the use of veterinary medications to treat head lice in children, ANSES wishes to emphasise that antiparasitic, insecticide and acaracide treatments intended for pets should never be used on humans, especially children. ANSES has again been informed...

Each year, as part of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health, ANSES issues two calls for research projects, the first on a general theme and the second devoted to the theme "Radiofrequencies and health". This year, 33 projects were selected....

In the context of its Scientific Conferences, ANSES is organising a one-day event on Tuesday 9 December 2014 on bee health. ANSES, coordinator of the EPILOBEE project for the surveillance of bee colony mortality in Europe via its Sophia-Antipolis laboratory (European Union...

Twice a year, ANSES organises its Scientific Conferences event in order to present the latest results of research funded by the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR-EST) for which it is the coordinator. The next event, to be held at the...

One of ANSES’s missions is to organise and support research. This is expressed in its work as part of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR-EST), a vital tool for acquiring the knowledge with which to support public policy-making and...

In view of the rapid development of new stereoscopic audiovisual technologies in 3D (3Ds, commonly referred to as 3D), ANSES issued an internal request to assess the potential health risks related to the use of these technologies, especially on human eyesight. In the study...

Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health issue, for both human and veterinary medicine. In France, many measures have been taken to promote the rational use of antimicrobials. For instance, in 1999, the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANSES-ANMV) began...

ANSES and EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) jointly organised a conference on occupational exposure to pesticides. The two-day event, held on October 28 and 29, was an opportunity to take stock of scientific and technical developments on the issue of pesticides and to...

As part of the process of issuing marketing authorisation for plant protection products (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009), ANSES systematically assesses the risk associated with the use of these products. According to the general principles of the French Labour Code, the priority...

ANSES and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are organising a joint conference on October 28 and 29 to present an overview of the latest developments in knowledge on occupational exposure to pesticides. The conference will bring together researchers and scientists from...

Workers who perform their activities under hyperbaric conditions (pressure higher than the ambient atmospheric pressure, i.e. > 100 hPa), may do so immersed in water (divers, scientists, military personnel, rescue teams, etc.) or without immersion (medical staff, tunnel...

The consumption and availability of food supplements as well as of certain special food items such as energy drinks, are in constant progression. Meanwhile, distribution channels are diversifying, especially with regard to the Internet. However, these new products, often...

In celebration of France's National Science Festival, which this year will be held through October 19th, the scientists at ANSES's laboratories will provide you with a glimpse into their everyday activities. Here is an overview of the programme. Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine):...

September 28th is World Rabies Day. It is an opportunity for ANSES and the Ministry of Agriculture, Agrofood and Forestry to call attention to their commitment to the fight against this disease and their continuing action for heightening awareness of the ever-present risk of...

In 2009, ANSES published a full report on the food consumption data obtained from INCA 2, the second phase of the national food consumption survey it conducts every seven years. Today, it makes available all of the data it has obtained from this study as open data. Directly...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used as a dye developer in the manufacturing of thermal paper which is used for cash register tickets, payment receipts, self-adhesive labels, lottery tickets and fax paper. In April 2013, the Agency presented the results of its risk assessment of...

Cellulose wadding is sometimes used to insulate dwellings. It may contain ammonium salts, added for their flame-retardant properties, i.e. to improve resistance to fire. However, especially under conditions of high relative humidity, these salts can lead to emissions of ammonia...

The quality of air inside buildings can be altered by various chemical or microbiological contaminants. Health effects such as respiratory diseases can also result from exposure to indoor air pollutants. The occurrence of these effects depends on the nature of the pollutants,...

The 3 July 2014 will see the launch of the national Pesti’home study, conducted by the French Observatory for Pesticide Residues (ORP), part of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). The aim of this study is to gain a better...

Summer sun and hot weather are on the way. And so as part of the national heat wave plan, the Agency is once again issuing its recommendations for hot weather so that you can have a happy, healthy and safe summer. Protect yourself from the sun, drink plenty of liquids, modify...

Phytosterols are natural compounds found in plants. They can lower blood cholesterol levels by reducing its intestinal absorption through competition. EU regulations authorise claims on the labels of products fortified with phytosterols indicating that phytosterols lower blood...

The development of antimicrobial resistance is a major concern for human and animal health. This phenomenon calls into question the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs and may worsen the prognosis of certain infectious diseases, with major consequences for human health. With...

On 19 June 2014, the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV) celebrated its 20-year anniversary. The ANMV is an ANSES body as well as the competent authority for the risk assessment and management of veterinary medicinal products in France. This is an opportunity...

2013 was a particularly active year for ANSES, with the publication of important opinions, the conducting of research and reference activities by the laboratories, the launch of a new website and ISO 9001 certification as recognition of the high quality of the Agency's expert...

During the national measurement campaign conducted in 2011 by ANSES's Laboratory for Hydrology, perchlorate ions were detected in water intended for human consumption (WIHC) in several regions of France. These ions interfere with iodine absorption by the thyroid, one of the...

ANSES was asked in 2009 by the Ministry of Health to identify and characterise exposure situations potentially posing a risk to health and associated with common consumer products and/or items containing certain chemicals classified as Category 2 reproductive toxicants (...

Every year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses pesticide residue-linked food risks for the European population based on the results of a surveillance programme involving all the Member States. Today, EFSA publishes its annual report based on surveillance data...

Confronted with the wide range of nanomaterials in everyday life and the many questions surrounding them, ANSES today published a review of the available literature on health and environmental issues relating to manufactured nanomaterials. This will help clarify scientific...

P-synephrine, a substance found in the skin of bitter oranges, is used as an ingredient in numerous so-called "weight-loss" food supplements. ANSES has received 18 reports of adverse reactions likely to be linked to consumption of food supplements containing p-synephrine....

The quality of air inside buildings is a public health concern in France and in many other countries. In fact, indoor environments encompass a broad diversity of exposure scenarios and many physical agents and chemical and microbiological contaminants which have variable effects...

For several years now, weakening and mortality of bee colonies has been observed in many countries. Because of this, for the first time an active surveillance study of bee colony mortality known as EPILOBEEhas been implemented in 17 European Member States. In order to harmonise...

On 17 January 2014, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its draft Opinion on the risks to health related to bisphenol A (BPA) on its website for consultation. On 7 February 2014, ANSES issued an internal request to analyse the main points of this draft Opinion....

At the Agency's initiative, the 9th meeting of the Radiofrequencies and health dialogue committee, which brought together all of the stakeholders (associations, operators, manufacturers, trade unions), was held on April 1st. The committee was created in 2011, and its mission is...

Collaboration between the ANSES's laboratories in Nancy and in Maisons-Alfort has revealed a link between boars exposed to the bacterium which causes bovine tuberculosis and outbreaks of the disease reported in cattle farms. For the publication of these results in the Plos One...

On March 5, ANSES was appointed as the Reference Centre of the Animal Health Service of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for brucellosis, a bacterial disease with worldwide distribution which can affect humans and most mammal species, especially domestic and wild...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical which has been in use for over 50 years in the plastics industry. The studies conducted by ANSES on the uses and health effects of bisphenol A led to recommendations, issued in September 2011 and in April 2013, to reduce population...

In March 2013, France issued two proposals to ECHA for the classification of "E-glass fibres" as category 1B carcinogens (known or presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans) and "fibres of representative composition" as category 2 carcinogens (suspected human...

"Red yeast rice" is a red mould grown on rice which is used in many food supplements claiming to "maintain a normal level of cholesterol". ANSES has received 25 reports of adverse reactions (mostly muscle and liver damage) likely to be linked to consumption of food supplements...

Free-living pathogenic amoebae of the species Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) are responsible for primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis. A small number of cases of the disease, a severe infection with a 95% fatality rate, have been reported worldwide. In 2008, a 9-year-old boy...

The Paris International Agricultural Show (SIA) is an important showcase for ANSES, a key player in the area of health and safety. This year, the Agency opens the doors of its laboratories to you! Our scientists will invite young and old alike to take part in a number of...

Different epidemiological studies conducted on population groups in the agricultural sector highlight a significant link between exposure to certain pesticides and certain pathologies. ANSES therefore issued an internal request in 2011 in order to identify, assess and...

At ANSES, the French Observatory of Food Quality (CIQUAL-OQALI) populates and manages the CIQUAL table, a reference data base on the nutritional composition of foods. New data have been added to it and are available as of today. The CIQUAL table now provides the full nutritional...

Today ANSES presents its 2014 work schedule, established following consultations with the ministries and stakeholders. In the wake of a particularly active year in 2013 – bisphenol A, radiofrequencies, energy drinks, worker exposure to bitumen, etc. –, in 2014 the Agency will be...

Starting on 6 February 2014, ANSES will launch its third Individual National Survey on Food Consumption (INCA 3). This survey will update our knowledge of eating habits in France, essential for setting public health priorities in the areas of nutrition as well as food safety...

Marc Mortureux and Jean-Pierre Poly, Directors General of ANSES and the French National Game and Wildlife Bureau (ONCFS) respectively, signed a framework agreement on 17 January 2014 validating their partnership. This collaboration attests to a commitment to taking wildlife into...

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced today that it has submitted for consultation its draft project on the assessment of the risks to humans of bisphenol A exposure. The opinion, which emphasises the highly uncertain scientific context, proposes lowering the...

By conducting its Total Diet Studies (TDS), ANSES is able to monitor the exposure of various population groups to the chemicals found in foods. In addition, it conducts national consumption surveys (INCA surveys) to gather information on the population's eating habits. In order...

In 2013, under the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health, ANSES launched two calls for research projects. In all, 37 projects were selected and allocated a total of €5.5 million, from sums provided by the Ministries of the Environment and Labour,...

On 10 and 11 December 2013 an international conference was held in Paris on the research and risk assessment challenges posed by chemical mixtures. The goal of these two days, organised by the French health agency, ANSES, and the German and Danish institutes, the BfR[1] and DTU[...

Today, Olivier Peyrat, Director General of the AFNOR group, presented Marc Mortureux, Director General of ANSES, with a diploma attesting to the Agency's ISO 9001 certification. ANSES had devised its certification process over several years, basing it for its risk assessment...

Avian chlamydiosis is a disease caused by C. psittaci, a parasitic bacteria that affects over 465 species of domestic, farmed and wild birds. For the publication of the discovery of a new species of Chlamydia by one of its laboratories in the journal Plos One, ANSES provides...

Currently Chairman of the French Agency for the Assessment of Research and Higher Education (AERES), Professor Didier Houssin has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Administrators of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) by a...

Together, ANSES, DTU (the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark)  and BfR (Germany's Federal Institute of Risk Assessment) are organising a conference on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 December to present an overview of research on the effects of exposure to...

Among its other missions, ANSES coordinates and supports research within its scope of expertise. This includes running the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), an essential resource for acquiring the knowledge necessary to assist the...

For several years now, a phenomenon resulting in the weakening and mortality of bee colonies has been seen in many countries. Various factors can affect bee colonies alone or synergistically - infectious diseases and parasites, stress due to changes in food resources, plant...

In the context of ANSES's Scientific Conferences, the Agency is organising a one-day event on Thursday 21 November 2013 devoted to bee health, an emblematic and cross-disciplinary topic involving both environmental and animal health concerns. For several years now, the Agency...

ANSES publishes several reports on veterinary antimicrobial sales, animal antimicrobial resistance and veterinary pharmacovigilance.   2012 sales survey of antimicrobials The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANSES-ANMV) has been monitoring veterinary...

"Red yeast rice" is used in many food supplements claiming to "maintain a normal level of cholesterol". ANSES received 25 reports of adverse reactions (mostly muscle and liver damage) likely to be linked to consumption of this type of food supplement.  In light of this, ANSES...

Faced with the rapid development of wireless technologies, ANSES issues recommendations for limiting exposure to radiofrequencies, especially for the most vulnerable populations  ANSES today publishes the results of its assessment of the risks related to exposure to...

During France’s National Science Festival from 9 to 13 October 2013, the general public, schools and students will be able to visit six of ANSES’s laboratories and discover or learn more about the day-to-day activities of the researchers who work for the French Agency for Food,...

Following his hearing at the French Senate and National Assembly, and upon proposal by the Agency's five supervising ministers, Marc Mortureux was reappointed today by French Presidential decree as Director General of ANSES.  After three years in existence, ANSES is now a...

So-called energy drinks are sodas fortified with substances that are already present in food (caffeine, taurine, vitamins, etc.) and whose principal common factor is their caffeine content (on average the equivalent of two espresso coffees). Because of their composition, these...

On this occasion, ANSES recalls its commitment to the control in Europe of rabies, which is transmissible to humans, and its efforts to detect the introduction of new cases in France as early as possible. The Agency will also participate in the international seminar on "New...

On September 26 2013, The French Agency for Food, Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety (ANSES) and INERIS (the French Institute for the Industrial Environment and Risks) signed a partnership agreement to strengthen the ties they have established over several years...

In the context of a partnership with the French National Consumers Institute (INC), ANSES has begun a study to compare the levels of various chemical contaminants in coffee prepared using home "espresso" machines with those of traditional drip brew coffee. The results show that...

Bisphenol A is a synthetic chemical which has been in use for over 50 years. Since last year, it has been the subject of a law which aims to ban its use in food containers.  The studies conducted by ANSES on the uses and health effects of bisphenol A led to recommendations,...

Bitumen is a residue of petroleum refining and is used mainly in road surfacing work.  Following alerts regarding its effects on worker health, the French Federation of Construction Workers - General Work Confederation asked ANSES to assess the health risks of bitumen for humans...

Like other foods, tap water is susceptible to contamination by pesticides. ANSES conducted a dedicated study to assess water’s share in overall dietary exposure to pesticides and the consequences of geographic variability in contamination in terms of risk.This study,conducted in...

Several hundred scientists from the best research institutes contribute, in their capacity as experts, to the assessments conducted by ANSES in the areas of occupational and environmental health, food health and safety, animal health and well-being, and plant health. Their main...

Fish and fishery products have valuable nutritional qualities which make them an especially sound food choice. Eating fish twice a week, including one portion of oily fish, is therefore recommended. However, since they are in permanent contact with the environment, the foods...

Among its other missions, ANSES coordinates and supports research within its scope of expertise. This includes running the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), an essential resource for acquiring the knowledge necessary to assist the...

Since the health and environmental crises of the 1980s and 90s, the role of scientific expert appraisal in the  public decision-making process has grown. Faced with complex subjects and the social challenges they engender, as well as the uncertainties surrounding available...

In the context of the veterinary drug monitoring plan that ANSES has implemented via the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products,  serious and even lethal adverse reactions in cats treated with topical antiparasitic treatments containing permethrin used for treating dogs...

Summertime, which is synonymous with sunshine, heat and holidays, is finally drawing near. As part of France's national heatwave response plan, the Agency issues a reminder of some good habits to adopt in hot weather and a few useful precautions to help you have a safe and...

There are many potential pollutants of indoor air that can have an impact on both health and well-being. Problems may simply be bothersome (olfactive discomfort, sleepiness, eye and skin irritation) or may cause or worsen a number of serious pathologies. To handle the challenges...

INSERM has just published the results of a collective expert appraisal on "pesticides and health" which it undertook at the request of the French Directorate General for Health (DGS). The term "pesticides" globally covers all the products used for pest control, in other words...

2012 was a busy year for ANSES both in terms of scientific output and institutional activities.  Important milestones throughout the year included: the inauguration of the Plant Health Laboratory in Angers, a high level of involvement in bee health and the long-term effects of...

Many microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) can potentially contaminate food, causing a variety of diseases. Close to 40% of all foodborne illness outbreaks declared in France occur in the home. Because of this, ANSES's Food Safety Laboratory today is launching a survey...

Processionary caterpillars are insects, found in several regions of France, including urban areas, whose proliferation compromises the health of the trees on which they feed. They also have an effect on human and animal health as their urticating bristles cause skin irritations...

For several years now, the health authorities and the scientific community have been investigating the presence of drug residues in water. The Agency has been working on this issue since 2006 and has established a comprehensive approach that is now part of the National Plan on...

Alongside the Board of Administrators and its thematic steering committees, the ANSES Scientific Board is the third body contributing to the Agency’s governance. Every three years, the scientific council of the Scientific Board is renewed, with its members being chosen from...

While the undesirable effects of high noise levels on hearing are well known, noise can have other, non-auditory effects on health, which can occur at lower levels and are observed in the vicinity of transport or industrial infrastructures, for example. In response to a joint...

200 people are asked to answer questions about their dietary habits     The role of diet in the increase or prevention of certain diseases such as cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease has now been scientifically established. In order to reinforce the prevention of these...

As the epidemiological situation improves with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the age limit for cattle subject to mandatory testing at the slaughterhouse has gradually been raised. In 2011, ANSES therefore recommended that the age limit for cattle testing be...

With the growing popularity of “fish pedicures”, in which fish are used to nibble away particles of dead skin, ANSES was requested by the Ministry of Health to assess the health risks involved in this kind of procedure. In an Opinion published today, the Agency recommends...

Together with the Joint Laboratories Service Unit of the Ministries of the Economy and the Budget, ANSES recently organised a one-day event of discussions that brought together the managers of laboratories participating in surveillance and control schemes set up by the health...

More than 250 people gathered at Maisons-Alfort today to learn about research projects on the health risks of air and water pollution, carried out as part of the National Plan for Research on Environmental and Occupational Health, which is overseen by ANSES. The presentations...

After three years of study, ANSES today published the results of its assessment of the health risks associated with bisphenol A. This work is accompanied by three other reports: an inventory of potential alternatives to bisphenol A, a hazard assessment for other compounds of the...

In a scientific opinion entitled "Lead in food" published in April 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported neurotoxic, developmental, cardiovascular and renal effects linked to blood lead levels(1) below 100 µg/L, a monitoring level commonly authorised...

The assessment of the cumulative risks of chemicals is currently one of the major challenges in the understanding and management of risks. With regard to pesticides and their residues, assessment methods are currently under development and tend toward the grouping together of...

Foods can be contaminated at several stages of production and preparation by a variety of pathogens (viruses, bacteria, moulds, parasites) whose effects may be benign, or on the contrary quite serious or even fatal. For the publication of two expert reports on potential emerging...

For several years now, water-based recreational activities have become increasingly popular, and involve various types of bathing and swimming.  Along with the development of these activities, our understanding of the chemicals and pathogens that may be found in swimming pool...

Various pollutants likely to be found in indoor air may affect our comfort and health to various degrees, from simple irritation (unpleasant odours, drowsiness or irritation of the eyes or skin) to the onset or aggravation of serious diseases. To address the health issues...

Food can be contaminated by numerous micro-organisms causing a wide range of illnesses. Close to 40% of all foodborne illness outbreaks declared in France occur in the home. In light of this, in 2012 ANSES updated its home hygiene page which provides a wide range of...

The upcoming Scientific Conferences cycle will be devoted to the health risks of environmental air and water pollution and will present the results of recent research in two areas: air pollution and epidemiological studies  environmental contamination of air and water and...

Today ANSES publishes its contribution to the consultation set up by EFSA for its draft opinion on the reassessment of aspartame (E951) as a food additive. An Emergency collective expert assessment group (GECU) made up of experts in toxicology and epidemiology and specialists in...

Health Canada and France's Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) signed a new framework cooperation agreement on January 15, 2013. This agreement reinforces the long-standing relations between the two agencies and follows the cooperation...

The Agency’s work schedule for 2013 will involve two major campaigns: In the field of air pollution, studies of allergens (especially pollen) and health risks due to particles in the atmosphere, particularly those caused by road traffic, will be undertaken or continued this...

Following reports of several cases of serious disorders in very young children who were partially or fully fed drinks other than breast milk or breast milk substitutes, ANSES issued a formal internal request to assess the risks of these products in infant nutrition from birth to...

On 27 February 2013, during the Paris International Agricultural Show, Michel Brault, Director General of the French Central Fund for the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Scheme (CCMSA), and Marc Mortureux, Director General of ANSES, signed a framework agreement designed to enhance...

The final conference of NANOGENOTOX, the European Joint Action coordinated by ANSES since 2010, was held in Paris at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on February 22, 2013. The event brought together more than 200 participants from around the world (scientists, national...

On 26 February 2013, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) signed its first goals and performance contract (COP ) for the period 2012-2015 with the French government, represented by the Ministers of Agriculture, the Budget, Consumer...

On 27 February 2013, Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), and François Houllier, President of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) signed a framework agreement aiming...

The ANSES website is a strategic tool that enables it to fulfil its communication mission towards the general public as well as the scientific community and its stakeholders. The site has now been entirely revamped.  This full overhaul has been guided by several main objectives...

For the 2013 Paris International Agricultural Show, 8- to 12-year-olds will discover or rediscover the keys to healthy eating. With a cheerful family kitchen as a backdrop, you will learn or get a refresher course on how to prepare a well-balanced meal, to store foods correctly...

The relationship between diet and socio-economic status has rarely been examined in children and adolescents in France. The expertise conducted by ANSES on this topic shows that the diet of underprivileged children and adolescents is of a lower quality. It also highlights the...

In opinions published today, the European Food Safety Authority in certain cases clearly emphasised bee colony health risks linked to exposure to insecticides containing three substances belonging to the neonicotinoid class. In other cases, risk assessments either could not be...

As a part of its mission to plan and support research, ANSES runs the French National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNREST), an essential tool for the development of knowledge as support for public policymaking and the health risk assessment work...

Today and tomorrow ANSES in partnership with the Ministry of ecology, sustainable development and energy, is holding an international seminar on "Recent advances in knowledge on the effects of endocrine disruptors on the environment and health". Planned as part of the PNRPE (...

The potential impact of manufactured nanomaterials on health is an emerging risk. In 2012, ANSES decided to assign this topic as one of the priorities of its work programme and to create a plan for globally apprehending the health questions raised by nanomaterials. To this end,...

Antimicrobial resistance is a major globally-acknowledged issue for human and animal health, with the emergence and the growing spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since 2009, ANSES has convened stakeholders interested in this topic in the area of animal health for European...

Every year in the context of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health, ANSES launches a call for research projects. This year, 31 projects were selected. They will be supported by a total of 5.8 million euros raised through funding by the...

In the context of the assessment of plant protection preparations, the regulations provide for the assessment of risks for users. In certain cases, authorisation of a preparation may be dependent upon users of the product wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). In order to...

Through its French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, ANSES is tasked with the assessment and management of veterinary drug risks in France. One of its main missions is the implementation of the veterinary drug monitoring plan, which aims to gather notifications of...

The analysis of the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine in France is based on two complementary systems: periodic studies conducted on farms or with veterinary practitioners and the yearly monitoring of sales of veterinary medicinal products containing antibiotics. The...

Consumed in excess, salt is a risk factor for disease, especially high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. In 2002, the Agency recommended lowering population intake by 20% through the gradual reduction in the salt content of certain foods. In partnership with the French...

Due to their specific eating habits and to the pests affecting tropical agriculture, the Caribbean population may be exposed to special risks associated with pesticide residues in their food. In the framework of the "Chlordecone" national action plan, ANSES conducted the...

ANSES was requested by the French Government to examine the paper by Séralini et al. published on 19 September 2012. The collective expert assessment carried out by the Agency concluded that the results of this research do not cast doubt on previous regulatory assessments of...

18 october 2012 As one of its responsibilities in the area of occupational health, ANSES has been entrusted by the Ministry of Labour to conduct scientific assessments prior to the setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for certain chemicals. In order to contribute to...

8 October 2012 As part of France's national Science Festival, held from 10 to 14 October, the general public will be able to visit three laboratories belonging to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). They will discover the broad...

The Nancy Laboratory for rabies and wildlife, which specialises in animal rabies, plays a key role in the French rabies monitoring system. Since its founding 40 years ago, the laboratory has contributed to rabies control through its research and development programmes. In...

ANSES is in charge of providing support to the French authorities for the implementation of the European regulation concerning the classification and labelling of chemicals. In keeping with the work the Agency has conducted on bisphenol A, it has filed a proposal with the...

Today, ANSES is hosting a feedback event for research projects on radiofrequency radiation via the Health and Radio Frequency Radiation Foundation and the Agency's National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health. Three hundred participants, including...

19 september 2012 A new study on the toxicity of GMOs was published today. Solicited by the French government, ANSES will immediately examine this new study and will inform the ministries of its conclusions without delay.  Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms or...

In August, ANSES and the University of Montreal signed a 4-year cooperative framework agreement. With this, scientific and technical cooperation between the two entities will be reinforced through the implementation of joint research projects and the exchange of both scientists...

6 september 2012 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) will be at the International Livestock Trade Faire in Rennes from 11 to 14 September 2012. The event will once again be an opportunity for ANSES to strengthen its pivotal ties...

Following an initial Opinion published in March 2011 based on two studies of the health effects of high-intensity sweeteners, ANSES made an internal request for assessment of the nutritional risks and benefits of these additives. The assessment is currently under way, and a...

In the context of its scientific expertise missions regarding toxicity reference values (TRVs), ANSES today published new values for two contaminants frequently found in the environment - vinyl chloride monomer and cadmium and its compounds. For several years, ANSES has been...

Today ANSES published its conclusions and recommendations regarding pollutants to be investigated in the context of road infrastructure health risk assessments. This work enters into the framework of revision of the French inter-ministerial circular dated 25 February 2005...

Over the last 50 years, the field of animal health has evolved substantially in France. In this context, and following the National consultation on the health sector, ANSES received a request from the Ministry of Agriculture to develop a method for prioritising the animal...

During his visit to Lithuania and Poland on 11 and 12 June, ANSES’s Director General Marc Mortureux signed cooperation agreements with Lithuania's National institute for the assessment of food and veterinary risks and Poland's National veterinary institute. With these two...

20 July 2012   Within the framework of the veterinary drug monitoring system implemented by ANSES has via the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, the Agency recently registered several cases of adverse reactions which could be linked to two products, one used for...

16 July 2012 How many calories does an apple contain? How much protein is found in yoghurt? Which fruit contains the most vitamin C, oranges or black currants? In France, the reference data base for the nutritional composition of foods is managed by ANSES. With the addition of...

10 July 2012   With a view to conserving water resources, the reuse of treated wastewater (RTWW) for crop irrigation or green space watering is considered an interesting alternative solution. In the wake of expertise work on the risks of exposure by the oral route, ANSES has...

2 July 2012 Created in July 2010 through the merger of AFSSA and AFSSET, ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) takes stock of its two years of activity. The new Agency has set up an innovative form of governance and established its...

29 June 2012 Summer has arrived, and with it sunshine, holidays and heat... In the context of France's national heatwave plan, the Agency helped draft a document itemising good habits to adopt in periods of hot weather. Here is a reminder of those recommendations and some useful...

Following the publication of its reports on the health effects and uses of bisphenol A, ANSES launched a call for contributions in September 2011 whose main goal was to gather data on BPA substitution products. Today, the Agency publishes its report on the call for contributions...

2011 was the first full year of activity for ANSES, and it abounded with topical corporate and scientific events. Publication of the Agency's report on the health effects of bisphenol A, integration of the Plant Health Laboratory on 01 January 2011, the mobilisation demonstrated...

18 June 2012 Following an initial Opinion published in March 2011 based on two studies of the health effects of high-intensity sweeteners, ANSES made an internal request for assessment of the nutritional risks and benefits of these additives. The assessment is currently under...

11 June 2012 At the May 2012 General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health, ANSES's Maisons-Alfort Laboratory for Animal Health was entrusted with a new reference mandate, for epizootic haemorrhagic disease. The session was also an opportunity to officially...

8 June 2012 For many people the arrival of summer is traditionally synonymous with the pursuit of slimness, and during this period a variety of regimes are promoted in the media. At the end of 2010, ANSES published an expert assessment emphasising the fact that weight-loss...

6 June 2012 ANSES has been monitoring the issue surrounding the safety of energy drinks for many years. To this end, and within the framework of the nutritional vigilance scheme, the Agency has been gathering information on adverse effects that are suspected to be linked to...

1st of June 2012 Cruiser OSR is a seed-dressing insecticide authorised for oilseed rape cultivation. It contains three active ingredients, including thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid-class insecticide. The results of a study published recently in the journal Science highlights the...

30 May 2012 A meeting on exposure indicators and biomarkers was held today to report back on the research projects conducted under the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST), coordinated by ANSES. The presentation of research projects and...

22 May 2012 Foot and mouth disease, avian influenza or bluetongue – as the crises of the past decade have shown, organised and responsive systems are vital to combat exotic pathogens. In order to identify the exotic diseases most at risk of being introduced into France, and to...

9 May 2012 Prenatal and perinatal development constitute the most vulnerable period of human life, with regard to the adverse effects of the environment and nutritional imbalances. Subtle effects during development can lead to functional deficits and increased risk of disease...

4 May 2012 Growth factors are substances produced naturally by humans and many animal species. They are thus found in animal products such as milk. These substances are necessary for development and act primarily on cellular growth and proliferation. The Agency received a...

20 April 2012 Following several reports concerning the use in the workplace of a coating manufactured from talc that was suspected of containing asbestos fibres, the Agency was asked in March 2009 to evaluate the mineral fibre and cleavage fragment composition of talcs, as...

17 April 2012 Following its risk re-assessment, ANSES, via the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, has decided to withdraw marketing authorisation for several antiparasitic collars intended for pets. This decision will lead to batches of the corresponding products...

10 April 2012 On 10 April 2012, Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and Françoise Weber, Director General of the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), signed a framework...

6 april 2012 On March 19, 2012, ANSES and the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to create a framework for numerous cooperation initiatives in the area of occupational health risk assessment. Two key...

30 March 2012 A new study has just been published on the potential effect of an insecticide ingredient, thiamethoxam, on bee colony health via its influence on the behaviour of forager bees. ANSES, in keeping with its mission of continuous surveillance, and at the request of...

1st March 2012 Several European countries regularly conduct studies to monitor the exposure of their populations to chemical contaminants through their daily diet (known as “total diet studies”, or TDS). A European project called "TDS_EXPOSURE" is being launched today in order...

15 February 2012 ANSES invites you to discover this year's new stand at the 2012 edition of the Paris International Agricultural Show, and its theme: "From the fridge to the oven: do it right!" The stand will be set up to resemble a cheerful family kitchen, and in a fun and...

14 February 2012 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) conducts a wide range of surveillance, expertise, research and reference missions to support public health measures, animal health and welfare and plant health. The Agency...

7 February 2012 The previously unknown Schmallenberg virus was first identified as affecting cattle and small ruminants in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium in the second half of 2011. The French authorities promptly set up a surveillance system which detected the virus in...

7 February 2012 As part of the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNREST), ANSES today launched its call for research proposals in association with the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME), the Multi-Organisation...

7 February 2012 Every year, ANSES draws up a Work programme for the following twelve months as a part of its process of open consultation with supervisory ministries and stakeholders. For each of the Agency's major fields of competence, the programme is broken down into...

24 January 2012 This previously unknown virus first appeared in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium in the second half of 2011, affecting cattle and small ruminants. The French authorities rapidly set up a surveillance system to detect any introduction of the virus on French...

20 January 2012 In February 2012, ANSES will launch its annual call for research proposals for 2012. Through this call for projects, ANSES and its partners continue the work in support of the environmental health and occupational health research communities that they have...

19 January 2012 Banned for over 20 years in France and in many other countries, PCBs are chemicals that persist in the environment and are widely spread across the surface of the planet. In Europe and abroad, measures have been taken to reduce the population's exposure to PCBs...

18 January 2012 The ANSES Plant Health Laboratory (LSV), located in Angers at the heart of a “competitiveness cluster with global reach in plant sciences", today inaugurated its new building. This has been made possible thanks to funding from France's Ministry of Agriculture,...

Since 2005, several hundred cases of poisoning and one death have been reported following the deliberate or accidental absorption of gamma-butyrolactone or 1,4-butanediol, which are most often consumed by young adults for their euphoriant properties. At the request of the...

15 December 2011 On 12 December, ANSES, INCa (1) and the AVIESAN (2) alliance invited close to 400 researchers, health professionals and representatives of official institutions and associations to review the current state of knowledge on the relationship between environmental...

7 December 2011 What is tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol? Tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) is an organic compound used as a solvent in many applications and products intended for both professionals (a chemical intermediate in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, a solvent...

25 November 2011 As part of the 2009-2013 Cancer Plan and the 2009-2013 French National Environment & Health Action Plan, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), the French National Cancer Institute (INCa), and the French...

18 November 2011 To mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day, ANSES held a meeting for all the stakeholders interested in the animal health component of this topic. At the event, the Agency presented the latest results of its work in this area. These point in particular to an...

17 November 2011 As the agency responsible for providing support to the French authorities for the implementation of European regulations on classification and labelling of chemicals, ANSES has submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), a proposal to revise...

16 November 2011 As part of its "roadmap" for the revision of the regulations on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the European Commission is proposing a relaxation of the rules banning processed animal proteins (PAPs) in the feed of certain productive...

2 November 2011 In 2008, several hundred cases of acute allergic skin reactions (eczema, irritative and allergic dermatitis), some of which were severe, were reported in France and other European countries. These cases mainly occurred after people had been exposed to various...

25 October 2011 Every year, as part of the National Research Programme on "Environment - Health - Work", ANSES launches a call for research projects. This year, 38 projects were selected. Together they will receive 5.3 million euros in funding from the Ministries of the...

6 October 2011 To mark the Fête de la Science from 12 to 16 October, three of the laboratories of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety are offering the general public a chance to discover the diversity of their work and share in the...

5 October 2011 ANSES wishes to remind the public that no anti-parasite, insecticide or acaricide product used to treat pets should ever be administered to humans, and especially not to children. ANSES has been informed that some veterinary medicines have been used to eliminate...

4 October 2011 Since 2001, the 32 occupational disease clinics (CCPPs) in France have formed a network of medical experts called the National Network for Monitoring and Prevention of Occupational Diseases (RNV3P), coordinated by ANSES. Anonymous data from clinic visits are...

28 September 2011 On the occasion of World Rabies Day, ANSES recalls its efforts to combat rabies and stresses the importance of vigilance with respect to this animal disease, which is transmissible to humans, in order to detect the introduction of new cases in France as early...

27 septembre 2011 As part of its assessment of the risks associated with bisphenol A, ANSES is today publishing two reports: one on the health effects of bisphenol A and the other on its uses. This work highlights health effects that have been proven in animals and suspected...

13 september 2011 On 9 September 2011, ANSES, Cemagref (1), Ifsttar (2), INERIS (3) and the IRSN (4) signed the Charter on the social representativeness of expertise, thus reaffirming their commitment to dialogue with stakeholders in civil society as part of their expertise...

12 September 2011 As part of the investigations it has been pursuing since 2002 into the dietary risk associated with chlordecone, ANSES has especially been examining the dietary exposure of young children in Guadeloupe during their dietary diversification phase. The results...

9 September 2011 This Thursday, 8 September 2011, ANSES and the Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute Robert-Sauvé (IRSST) in Quebec signed a four-year framework cooperation agreement. The partnership agreement defines the framework for bilateral collaboration in...

7 September 2011 ANSES is a major player in animal health and welfare. It will be at the International Livestock Trade Faire (SPACE) in Rennes, France from 13 through 16 September 2011. Once again, this event is an opportunity for ANSES to meet with livestock professionals...

7 septembre 2011 Following the discovery of wild animal carcasses in the Gouessant estuary, the Ministry of Agriculture requested that ANSES determine the causes of their death. In view of all the available data, the hypothesis of poisoning by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the...

1 september 2011 In May and June 2011, cases of infections by an enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacterium of serotype O104:H4 were reported respectively in Germany and France, resulting in cases of bloody diarrhoea, haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) and nearly 50 deaths...

18 July 2011 Formamide is classified as a reprotoxic substance (1B) under the terms of European regulations (1). At the end of 2010, when it was shown to be present in foam puzzle mats intended for young children, France's Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer...

18 July 2011 Legionellosis (or Legionnaires' Disease) is a lung infection caused by bacteria of the Legionella genus. The disease is monitored mainly through data collected when cases are reported to the authorities, which has been mandatory since 1987. In 2010, 1540 cases...

12 July 2011 As of 22 June 2011, cases of bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) occurred in adults, mostly women, in the Bordeaux area. These people were infected by a strain of Escherichia coli belonging to the serotype O104:H4, a bacterium which is...

7 July 2011 In response to a solicited request received in February 2010 as part of the national plan to combat the spread of green algae, ANSES today published an Opinion and an Expert Assessment Report which complements the initial recommendations published by the Agency in...

1 July 2011 One year ago two agencies, AFSSA(1) and AFSSET(2) merged to create ANSES, an independent scientific establishment with a broad mission encompassing all aspects of human, animal and plant health, and considering human beings in their environment in the widest sense...

30 June 2011 The Agency recently undertook to provide the broadest snapshot that has ever been taken of nutritional intakes and dietary exposure to chemical substances in the French population, in order to assess the long-term risk related to this exposure. In general, TDS 2...

29 June 2011 Episodes of human infections, caused by bacteria from the family of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, have been observed in northern France and the Bordeaux area. Despite causing similar symptoms (bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uremic syndrome), the...

29 June 2011 Just like the quality of outdoor air, the quality of air inside buildings is a public health concern. In temperate climates, each person spends an average of 85% of their time in enclosed environments, the majority of that time in the home. In recent years,...

16 June 2011 Since May, an epidemic due to a bacteria of the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) group found in bean sprouts has hit Germany and several other European countries. Since yesterday, several cases linked to a bacteria of the same group found in meat have...

10 June 2011 Commissioned by the French Ministry of Health to prepare an initial national status report on the presence of perfluorinated compounds in water, ANSES, through its Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology, has now published its results. Perfluorinated compounds are a large...

8 June 2011 An abnormal increase in cases of haemorrhagic diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) has been observed in Germany and in certain other European countries. A foodborne bacterium could be the source of these cases. ANSES provides an update below on the...

31 May 2011 The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields related to the use of mobile telephones as possibly carcinogenic to humans. This corresponds to Group 2B in a classification system ranging from...

30 May 2011 As part of the revision of the early retirement programme for persons having worked with asbestos (CAATA), ANSES has been requested to gather available scientific and technical data on occupational exposure to asbestos. The aim was to identify occupations with a...

26 May 2011 Based on all the scientific data available, what nutritional recommendations can be given concerning cancer prevention? Faced with the major public health problem of cancer and the plethora of often contradictory views and advice on the subject, ANSES decided to...

24 May 2011 The first edition of the International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance (ICAHS) was held in Lyon from May 17 through 20. Three hundred experts from around the world were present at the conference whose concluding message highlighted the need for...

17 May 2011 The potential impact of radio frequencies on health is one of the primary themes in the ANSES 2011 work programme. In addition to the existing comprehensive measures on this topic, the "Radio frequencies and health" dialogue committee will be responsible for...

17 May 2011 This afternoon the first edition of the International Conference on Animal Health Surveillance - ICAHS opened in Lyon. The event is part of the agenda for World Veterinary Year, Vet2011, of which ANSES is an associate member. Its objective is to bring together the...

12 May 2011 On 25 November 2010, ANSES published an expert report on the risks related to dietary weight-loss practices and then submitted The report to all stakeholders for consultation. In the light of the feedback received, the Agency has now published its Opinion...

5 May 2011 Assessing the risks associated with endocrine disruptors - chemicals such as phthalates, parabens and alkylphenols - is a key priority for ANSES. Marc Mortureux, Director General of ANSES, comments on the issue, which is currently being debated in Parliament, and...

5 May 2011 The term "urinary tract infections” (UTIs) covers a heterogeneous group of infections occurring more frequently in women than in men, with 40 to 50% of women having at least one UTI during their lifetime. The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the pathogen most...

29 April 2011 At the meeting of ANSES's Board of Directors held on 27 April 2011, the Director General launched a debate on the impact of recent judgments by the Council of State. These judgments create precedents in deontological ethics and the conducting of expert...

15 April 2011 Through the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV), ANSES has recently received reports of several cases of hypersensitivity reaction in cattle vaccinated with HIPRABOVIS PNEUMOS. This vaccine, for which Laboratorios HIPRA have a Marketing...

14 April 2011 The Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest is a significant innovation in ANSES's governance structure, which is defined in the Agency's founding charter. Through this new Committee the Agency now has a solid basis with which to...

12 April 2011 The properties of manufactured nanomaterials are paving the way for a wide variety of promising technological developments. However, when assessing the risks associated with these substances, many uncertainties arise that can only be resolved once advances in...

April 1 2011 The Sophia-Antipolis laboratory of ANSES was recently appointed as European Union Reference Laboratory for bee health by the European Commission. This newly-created mandate, the 9th European reference mandate to be entrusted to the Agency, has been assigned to the...

21 March 2011 The result of an extensive consultation and consensus-building process with all of the stakeholders, the Committee for ethical standards and prevention of conflicts of interest is a significant innovation in ANSES's governing structure and is defined in the...

15 March 2011 As part of its continual monitoring of health issues, ANSES has examined two new studies on the possible health effects that could be attributed to aspartame or soft drinks containing food sweeteners, including aspartame. The Agency publishes an Opinion today...

22 February 2011 ANSES launched a call for research proposals on environmental and occupational health in association with the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), the National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the French National Agency for Water and Aquatic...

10 February 2011 ANSES’s work programme for 2011 demonstrates its determination to address the scientific challenges raised by long-term, low-dose exposure to innumerable and varied sources of danger. It is fully in line with the Agency’s multidisciplinary and integrated...

10 February 2011 The presence of emerging substances (1) in the environment at trace levels (2) and particularly that of drug residues in water has in recent years been an issue for public opinion, the scientific community and the public authorities. The health risks...

9 February 2011 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) was created last July from the merger between AFSSA and AFSSET, and will be attending the Paris International Agricultural Show for the first time. The new Agency’s principal...

1 February 2011 Aspartame is an intense sweetener that has been authorised in the United States since 1974 and in Europe since 1994. It has been assessed several times in the United States (1981, 1983, 1998 and 2007) and in Europe (1985, 1989, 1997, 2002 and 2006) and also at...

1 February 2011 L'Anses lancera le 22 février prochain son appel à projets de recherche annuel dans le cadre du Programme National de Recherche en Environnement-Santé-Travail. Une nouvelle procédure de sélection sur lettre d'intention sera mise en place cette année. Le...

1 February 2011 On 31 January 2011, Marc Mortureux, Director General of ANSES and Patrick Lavarde, General Director of the French National Agency for Water and Aquatic Environments (ONEMA), signed a three-year partnership agreement in order to consolidate their ability to meet...

25 January 2011 Philippe Bas, a former Minister for Health, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Administrators of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), formed through the merger of AFSSA with AFSSET. Philippe Bas, aged...

14 January 2011 Biocidal products are preparations containing one or more active substances intended to destroy or repel pests, or render them harmless (household insecticides, alcohol-based gels, water disinfection products, etc.). Due to their toxicity, these chemicals are...

12 January 2011 The National Laboratory for the Protection of Plants was incorporated into ANSES on 1 January 2011, and was renamed the 'Plant Health Laboratory'. The Laboratory previously fell under the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food...

11 January 2011 Aspartame is an intense sweetener that has been authorised in Europe since 1994 by Directive 94/35/EC(1), after assessment by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 1985. The committee set an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg...

10 January 2011 On 4 January, evidence of dioxins in poultry and pigs was discovered on farms in Germany, which led the German authorities to issue a warning via the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). This contamination is likely due to the use of dioxin-...

9 December 2010 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) today launched a nutritional vigilance scheme for novel foods, fortified foods, food supplements and foodstuffs intended for specific diets. The scheme will enable...

3 December 2010 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) today published the results of its call for research projects for 2010. In all, 44 projects have been chosen for a total of 5 million Euros, financed jointly with INCa, ADEME...

25 November 2010 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) today published an expert report on the assessment of risks related to dietary weight-loss practices. The pursuit of slimness and the proliferation of diets that can be...

19 November 2010 On 18 November 2010, in the context of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day, ANSES organised a day-long seminar on Antimicrobial Resistance in Animals in cooperation with the Directorate General for Food and the Directorate General for Health and Consumer...

16 November 2010 The proceedings of the symposium "Reviewing the prevention of occupational risks: a challenge for sustainable development", held on 25 June 2010 and organised jointly by the Agency and the Sustainable Development Chair at Sciences Po, are now online. The event...

2 November 2010 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has just published a review of current knowledge of the health risks and public health measures taken in France and in other countries to deal with the exposure of humans to...

25 October 2010 Today, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES)(1) is publishing its expert appraisal on the health issues surrounding lighting systems using LEDs; such a study has never been carried out before. Because of their...

22 October 2010 Epidemiological surveillance is an essential component of health risk prevention, as the data collected are needed for assessing the probability of emergence and the health impact of diseases, and for notifying the government and other involved players of the...

21 October 2010 In July 2010, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) was asked by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) to assess the scientific validity of claims by a beverage that...

13 October 2010 The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES)(1) today published seven collective expert assessment reports as part of its permanent mission to draw up recommendations for occupational exposure limits (OELs). For four...

24 September 2010 Since the summer of 2008, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) and the centres for poison control and toxicant monitoring have registered reports of transitory bitterness after consumption of pine nuts....

24 September 2010 Epidemiological update of the international situation of avian influenza virus Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) In Vietnam, outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 virus in poultry Vietnamese health authorities notified the OIE of six new outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 virus...

15 September 2010 Malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, tick-borne encephalitis, plague, leishmaniases and filariases are all examples of vector-borne diseases. The vectors are insects (mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, Phlebotominae, Culicoides, etc.) that actively transmit pathogens (...

2 September 2010 Marc Mortureux, Director General of the French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) is strengthening his immediate executive team with the appointment of three Deputy Director Generals and a Director of Information, Communication...

24 August 2010 Two studies conducted by scientists from ANSES and INRA shed light on the history of Chlordecone in the French West Indies. Undertaken as part of the Chlordecone 2008-2010 action plan, the studies aimed to reconstruct the historical facts in the proper order as...

28 July 2010 Fish has valuable nutritional qualities, however, it is also contaminated by environmental pollutants. ANSES has established an optimal frequency of fish consumption to meet the population's needs in terms of beneficial nutrients while ensuring food safety for the...

23 July 2010 The REACH Regulation came into force on 1 June 2007, with the aim of improving the protection of human health and the environment, while maintaining the competitiveness and enhancing the innovative capability of the European chemicals industry. It is designed to...

8 July 2010 Marc Mortureux, has been appointed by French Presidential decree on 7 July as the head of the new French health agency (ANSES). Since September 2009 he has been leading a consultation and consensus-building effort to define the values and missions of the new health...

1st July 2010 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...