Used in gardens and homes or as antiparasitic products for humans and pets, pesticides expose the public to health risks that need to be controlled. In order to better understand the practices and uses of pesticides in the French overseas territories, ANSES conducted the Pesti'...

Virtual and augmented reality are increasingly used in a wide variety of fields including healthcare, training, real estate, safety and leisure. In parallel with this deployment, ANSES decided to take a closer look at the impact of the population's exposure to these emerging...

The health authorities are alerting parents and carers of young children to the risks of swallowing magnetic balls. These accidents can lead to very serious complications. Two serious cases of accidental ingestion of 3 to 5 mm magnetic balls have been reported recently,...

Gabrielle Bouleau was re-elected as Chair of ANSES's Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest on 16 June 2021. A chief engineer in bridges, water and forestry at INRAE, Gabrielle Bouleau is an expert in environmental policy. As head of ANSES's...

The results of the European Valitest project, coordinated by ANSES, were presented at the project's final general assembly on Wednesday 9 June. This project assessed a total of 83 tests, and led to diagnostic practices being harmonised for 11 plant pests. The goal of Valitest...

As glyphosate's approval in the European Union expires at the end of 2022, any future use requires this herbicidal active substance to undergo a new assessment of the risks to humans and the environment. A group of four rapporteur Member States (France, Hungary, the Netherlands...

On 11 June 2021, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) appointed ANSES as its reference laboratory for contagious equine metritis. This disease reduces fertility in mares and has major economic consequences. Contagious equine metritis is caused by the bacterium...

In an update of its 2018 Opinion on alternatives to neonicotinoids, ANSES identified 22 solutions for controlling aphids and yellowing disease in sugar beet crops. These control measures may take over from neonicotinoid products, which have been banned since 2018 but whose use...

On 1 June, Charlotte Grastilleur was appointed Managing Director General in charge of ANSES's Regulated Products Division. She now coordinates the Agency's departments in charge of assessing applications and issuing marketing authorisations for plant protection products,...

A special issue of the journal Microbial Risk Analysis has just been published, addressing risk factors for the main foodborne infectious diseases. Based on the work of ANSES's scientists and experts, it summarises epidemiological knowledge and provides information to guide...

Do you know what microplastics and nanomaterials have in common? Their infinitesimally small size makes these compounds difficult to assess. They are also two topics that we study at ANSES to better understand the hazards they represent. Engineered nanomaterials and plastic have...

"We need to be pragmatic on the issue of nanomaterials: we have to better understand exposure, identify their uses and ask questions about their utility in view of the health risks". Aurélie Niaudet, in charge of assessing the risks associated with physical agents, explains the...

ANSES recently assessed the risks associated with the coumarin content of certain plants when consumed in food supplements in particular. Coumarin is a natural aromatic compound found in certain plants such as cinnamon. It is used in food as a spice or natural flavouring...

Research conducted by ANSES shows that exposure to a high concentration of glyphosate does not reduce trout resistance to viral infections. However, the combination of these two stress factors of chemical and infectious origin revealed changes in the activity of some enzymes of...

ANSES notes the conclusions of EFSA's re-assessment of titanium dioxide used as a food additive (E171), which confirm the health concerns raised by the Agency in its own 2017 and 2019 assessments. It will now take the data from this new assessment into account in its ongoing...

Antiparasitics containing fipronil account for nearly one-third of adverse drug reactions reported in pet rabbits. These products, intended for use in dogs and cats, should not be administered to rabbits. Between January 2013 and December 2020, ANSES received 137 reports of...

The return of the warm weather coincides with the return of parasites such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, all of which can cause serious diseases in animals These parasites can also carry diseases transmissible to humans. Ectoparasiticides (designed to kill parasites that live...

Especially active in the spring and autumn, ticks are the main vectors of pathogens responsible for infectious diseases in Europe. In particular, they transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in humans. Bites can occur in woods and forests, but also in gardens. A new...

The Animal Q Fever Unit of ANSES’s Sophia-Antipolis Laboratory has just published a study comparing the performance of the three commercially available tests for detecting Q fever in animals. This work will help improve the interpretation of test results to better screen for the...

ANSES, EnvA and INRAE have renewed their agreement on two joint research units (UMRs): the BIPAR unit (molecular biology and parasitic immunology) and the Virology unit. Both units work on animal diseases and the risk of transmission to humans: the first on parasitic diseases...

Acquired mainly through our diet, vitamins and minerals are essential to our health, growth and body functions. ANSES is updating the dietary reference values specifying the vitamin and mineral intake required to meet the nutritional needs of the population, without leading to...

Population exposure to electromagnetic fields in the radiofrequencies band is changing, driven by technological progress and the emergence of new digital habits. As part of the deployment of 5G, new frequency bands are already being used (3.5 GHz band) or are scheduled for use...

As part of France’s Second National Endocrine Disruptor Strategy (SNPE 2), ANSES has drawn up a list of substances of interest and identified a selection of priority substances to be included in its assessment programme. The Agency is also recommending a method to establish...

Could there be a COVID-31? How is our current turbulent relationship with mosquitoes – or bees – likely to evolve in the future? What sort of meat will we eat in the future? ANSES has announced the launch of “Zootopique”, its first series of podcasts. The series invites...

In 2018, for the first time, brevetoxins, a group of marine biotoxins, were detected in mussels in Corsica. If ingested by humans, these toxins can cause neurological, gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular symptoms. Based on cases of food poisoning occurring in other countries...

Originally from Asia, the shiitake is the world's most widely consumed mushroom after the white button variety. It has been on the European market for several years and is now grown and produced in France. When eaten raw or undercooked, shiitake can trigger a toxic "flagellate"...

There is currently an outbreak of rhinopneumonitis among horses in Europe. The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV) is actively engaged in assuring a substantial supply of EHV1 vaccines.  The participation of horses in international competitions in Spain, and...

The French government has decided to carry out independent collective expert appraisals to support the development of occupational disease tables and thereby improve the recognition of occupational diseases in France. These scientific appraisals call on ANSES's expertise.   Why...

In effect since 27 March 2021, REGULATION (EU) 2019/1381 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019, known as the "Transparency Regulation", aims to improve the transparency and sustainability of European Union risk assessment in the food chain. Below is an...

The current trend for false nails and the health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in the use of cyanoacrylate adhesives at home. While direct skin contact with these glues is generally not serious, splashes through clothing can cause severe burns...

Scientists from ANSES and INRAE have analysed the systems in place to monitor resistance to plant protection products around the world. Their findings showed that studies on this subject are often engaged by both private and public players, at the same time and in the same...

Cases of adverse effects are regularly reported after humans have been accidentally exposed to veterinary medicinal products. Prascend®, intended for horses, is the medicinal product most frequently involved, after antiparasitics. Its mode of administration, generally hidden in...

A project coordinated by ANSES on the role of pets in the spread of antimicrobial resistance has just been selected for funding. More than one in two French households owns a pet. Do they play an important role in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria? Few studies...

Some countries outside the European Union use bisphenol B as an alternative to bisphenol A, a substance whose endocrine-disrupting properties are now widely recognised. However, bisphenol B has similar, or even slightly greater, endocrine-disrupting properties. Following the...

With 17,000 tonnes produced or imported each year in France, titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form or TiO2-NP is one of the most widely used nanomaterials in various industrial sectors. It is therefore a major source of potential exposure in the workplace. Following on from the...

Increased complexity of health risks in a globalised world, mistrust of the authorities: the contribution of scientific expertise to public decision-making regularly generates high expectations and lively debate. This has once again been demonstrated with the COVID-19 pandemic...

A number of grouped cases or clusters of COVID-19 have been identified among workers in food processing plants, in France and around the world. A project coordinated by ANSES and funded by the National Research Agency (ANR) is now under way to better understand how the virus...

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the French Health Products Safety Agency (ANSM) have decided to combine some of their scientific activities and bring them together under a new roof. The Pargade Architectes firm was...

Every week in France, 83% of children and adolescents and nearly 80% of working adults and students take one or more meals outside their home. ANSES conducted a review of the foods consumed and the nutritional intakes of these meals taken away from home. Mass catering, i.e....

Celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we take a closer look at the activities and careers pursued by women at ANSES. Women at ANSES are present in many different fields, including research and surveillance, health risk assessment, regulatory sciences...

Thanks to a technique developed by the ANSES Plant Health Laboratory, at the site in Angers, it is now easier to identify an unregistered DNA sequence in a genetically modified organism (GMO). The genetic modification of organisms by transgenesis consists in introducing one or...

The French nutrivigilance scheme collects reports of adverse effects associated with the consumption of certain food products, including food supplements. Healthcare professionals, manufacturers or distributors and individuals can now report these adverse effects more quickly...

The substance hexyl salicylate, used in cosmetics and household cleaners, can have various effects on health, ranging from allergic skin reactions to abnormal foetal development. In order to better inform and protect consumers, ANSES has submitted a classification proposal to...

Thousands of dog bites are recorded in France every year. The existing regulations for preventing them are based on the animal's breed or breed type. Following its expert appraisal on the subject, ANSES concluded that this information alone cannot reliably predict the risk of...

On 1 February 2021, Matthieu Schuler was appointed Managing Director General of ANSES’s "Science for Expertise" Division. Matthieu Schuler takes over from Professor Gérard Lasfargues and will continue to consolidate the Agency's scientific orientations in order to guarantee...

The phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), which was detected in Mayotte for the first time in late 2019, represents a major threat to banana crops. In December, eleven new suspected cases raised fears of further outbreaks of the...

Cases of vitamin D overdose have recently been reported in young children following the use of food supplements fortified with this vitamin. These cases present as hypercalcaemia (excessive calcium in the blood), which can have serious consequences on the kidneys such as...

The first research project supported by the thematic research network on animal health and welfare in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (SAARA), in which ANSES is participating, is seeking a better understanding of the evolution of mycoplasmas, a bacterial genus that contains some...

ANSES has just published its 2021 work programme, which sets the course for its actions in all its areas of expertise. This programme outlines the work that the Agency will carry out in response to formal requests or as part of major national public health plans, as well as its...

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Protecting the health of 90% of European children from birth to three years of age from exposure to hazardous substances: this is the aim of the restriction proposal concerning disposable diapers that ANSES has submitted under REACh, the European chemicals regulation. It seeks...

Today, ANSES is publishing the list of projects selected as part of the 2020 calls for research projects for the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health. Thirty-four projects were chosen following the selection process, with total funding of six...

ANSES and its Belgian counterpart Sciensano have just renewed the long-standing agreements between them, first signed in 2009. The two agencies will continue their joint activities, mainly in the areas of diagnosis, research and reference relating to the pathogens responsible...

ANSES scientists exposed rainbow trout for 10 months to glyphosate concentrations comparable to those found in nature. This exposure did not affect their survival, reproduction or metabolism. However, occasional changes to their immune response were observed. The research was...

Five European research projects in which ANSES is taking part have just been selected for funding. The Agency is coordinating four of them and is a participant in the fifth. They are being carried out as part of the first ERA-NET ICRAD call for projects on infectious animal...

ANSES's Laboratory for Animal Health is the national and European reference laboratory for major equine infectious diseases. Aymeric Hans, Director of the Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases (PhEED) unit based in Normandy, is taking part in a round table on...

Although Melaleuca leaves have not traditionally been used for food purposes in France, they have given rise to tea tree, niaouli and cajeput essential oils found in multiple food supplements. Despite the fact that use of these essential oils is discouraged or even banned in...

During the winter holiday season, holly, mistletoe and poinsettia are used to decorate cakes, home interiors and gardens. The ingestion of berries or leaves by children or animals can be toxic, causing symptoms of varying severity depending on the quantity consumed. In the event...

On December 14, 2020, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote improved scientific and technical cooperation between the two national agencies in the...

Common ragweed first arrived in the Rhone Valley in the middle of the 20th century, and has been spreading across the country ever since, causing allergies, among other things. Today ANSES is publishing an estimate of the costs associated with the health consequences of its...

The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV), part of ANSES, is responsible for monitoring the market of products for veterinary use. Following an alert suggesting that the Wish e-commerce platform may have been selling falsified antiparasitic collars, the ANMV...

Used in a wide variety of everyday products, nanomaterials nevertheless raise many questions about the risks to human health and the environment generated by their presence. In this context, ANSES reiterates the importance of reporting substances in nanoparticle form – which has...

Through their research, expert appraisal and/or scientific and technical assessment activities, these eight public establishments share a common ambition: to facilitate a greater understanding of risks and how they can be prevented and reduced. They also share the same belief...

On 25 November 2020, ANSES became a Reference Centre for antimicrobial resistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This new centre, which will involve several Agency entities working on antimicrobial resistance surveillance and research, will...

ANSES recommends that women who use oral contraception should not take the food supplement Chewable Hair Vitamins®. Chewable Hair Vitamins®, marketed by HairBurst, is a food supplement in chewing-gum form used to maintain healthy hair. In 2019, as part of its nutrivigilance...

To stay healthy, it is essential to take regular exercise, such as sport, walking or games, and limit sedentary screen time. Today, ANSES is publishing its assessment of the health risks associated with sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity among children and adolescents....

Following the acquisition and analysis of new scientific data, ANSES updated the expert appraisal it had published in April 2020 on potential transmission of COVID-19 via domestic animals. The Agency confirms that to date, domestic and wild animals have played no epidemiological...

To coincide with European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November 2020, ANSES is publishing the results of its annual surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in animals and monitoring of sales of veterinary antimicrobials. Resapath's observations: the decline in...

While antimicrobial resistance is a well-researched phenomenon in humans and animals, its dissemination in the environment is less well known. However, certain resistance genes that are currently a problem in medicine come from bacteria in the environment. ANSES was therefore...

Mould (microscopic fungi found in nature and in outdoor air) causes respiratory effects, especially in children. ANSES recommends improving the monitoring of mould in outdoor air and training healthcare professionals on the potential health risks to younger people. Following on...

Today ANSES is publishing its first assessment of tobacco and vaping products sold in France. The information provided on more than 3,000 tobacco products, mainly cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos, and more than 33,000 vaping products, primarily e-liquids packaged in refill...

ANSES recently received an urgent request to assess the potential risks relating to the wearing of washable cloth masks treated with two active substances, silver zeolite and silver-copper zeolite. These washable masks were brought to market by the company Hanes against the...

The Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a virus that can spread rapidly in courgette crops, causing considerable damage. ANSES’s Plant Health Laboratory confirmed its presence in France, although the country had been disease-free prior to that time.  Described for the...

Since the start of the mushroom-picking season, poison control centres have recorded a sharp increase in cases of poisoning associated with the consumption of wild mushrooms, particularly in the last two weeks. This type of poisoning can have serious health consequences leading...

At the height of the season for all the pumpkins, squash and other cucurbits that brighten up our autumn dishes, it is important to remember that not all "squash" are edible. Some inedible gourds can even cause food poisoning, which can sometimes be serious. Here are some...

Update of 4 December 2020: Following the Ministry of the Environment's announcement of additional funding for projects on endocrine disruptors, the text of the general call for projects has been amended. To enable scientific teams to respond, the deadline for project submission...

In this early autumn period, horse chestnuts, which grow and fall from the horse chestnut or conker tree, are frequently confused with sweet chestnuts, which come from the sweet or Spanish chestnut tree. In a study by ANSES on cases of confusion between plants recorded by French...

Béatrice Grasland has a PhD in microbiology. She first worked in the field of swine virology, then in avian virology, with notable experience in animal coronaviruses. "Construction of infectious clones to obtain viral models and study their virulence" Becoming a researcher was a...

To improve knowledge of health risks, ANSES conducts research in its nine laboratories. Every year, its scientists and PhD students get together for its Scientific and Doctoral Days devoted to research, where they are given the opportunity to interact with one another and...

Through its French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, ANSES will be taking part in the management of a project seeking solutions to the unavailability of certain antibiotics. This three-year project will begin in November 2020, and will receive technical support from the...

As part of the government's glyphosate withdrawal plan, ANSES undertook an assessment of non-chemical alternatives to this herbicide. Its results were published on 9 October 2020. Use of glyphosate is now restricted to situations where there is no substitute for this substance...

And that makes three! After the epidemiological surveillance platforms for animal and plant health, it is now the turn of the food chain surveillance platform (SCA) to launch its dedicated website: https://www.plateforme-sca.fr. Among other things, it will provide livestock and...

In 2018, the government decided to implement independent collective expert appraisals to improve the recognition of occupational diseases in France. The aim of this decision was to separate the expert appraisal phase from negotiations with the social partners, as part of the...

Stephan Zientara, age 56, is a veterinary surgeon and virologist. His role at ANSES is to study infectious animal diseases, zoonoses and vector-borne diseases.  General Inspector of veterinary public health – Director of the ANSES/INRAE/ENVA joint research unit – Deputy...

Early autumn marks the beginning of the wild mushroom picking season. Every year, numerous cases of poisoning caused by mushrooms are reported to poison control centres. This type of poisoning can have serious health consequences leading to hospitalisation or even death: severe...

Gabrielle Bouleau was elected as Chair of the ANSES Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest on 16 September 2020. A chief engineer in bridges, water and forestry, and a socio-political expert with INRAE (the French National Research Institute for...

© E. Lombard – Cour des comptes Professor Benoît Vallet, Senior Counsellor at the French Court of Auditors, was appointed Chairman of ANSES's Board of Administrators by Presidential Decree dated 10 September 2020. He succeeds Luc Derepas. Benoît Vallet is an anaesthetist by...

Today, ANSES is publishing an opinion on the health risks associated with the presence of cyanobacteria and their toxins in recreational water, drinking water and water intended for fishing. This work has been used to update the list of toxin-producing cyanobacteria in fresh...

Several cases of young children accidentally spraying alcohol-based solutions into their eyes after using the hand-sanitiser dispensers provided in shops or other places open to the public have been reported by ophthalmologists and French Poison Control Centres. The most serious...

A proposal for classification submitted by ANSES to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) under the CLP Regulation on product classification, labelling and packaging has been subject to public consultation since 24 August 2020. This proposal concerns acetophenone azine, a...

Frequent poisoning due to confusion between edible and toxic plants Ornamental gourd confused with edible squash, water dropwort confused with wild carrot, jimsonweed leaves confused with New Zealand spinach leaves or autumn crocus confused with wild garlic...These are just some...

On 4 December 2019, ANSES submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for harmonised classification of lithium carbonate, lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide under the CLP Regulation (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of products). These three salts are...

Fizzing bath tablets that resemble sweets, depilatory creams packaged like pouches of fruit puree or hand sanitiser sold in wine bottles: such imitations of food products are frequently found on the market. Whether you are a healthcare professional or an ordinary citizen, you...

Following a group of severe poisoning cases in the Grand-Est region, ANSES and the poison control centres are alerting the public to the risks associated with consuming toxic wild plants that have been mistaken for edible ones, including in garden vegetable patches.   Severe...

Almost a quarter of edible seaweed samples analysed recently had cadmium concentrations above the maximum level of 0.5 milligram per kilogram set by the French High Council for Public Health (CSHPF). Because cadmium is classified as carcinogenic to humans and is used in foods...

From farm (food production and processing) to fork (consumption), the food we eat can be contaminated by various chemical and biological agents (hazards), posing a risk to our health.  To help risk managers optimise the safety of our food, ANSES has developed a methodology for...

Following the controversies over the carcinogenic classification of glyphosate, ANSES and its expert groups developed a strategy for the toxicological studies planned to supplement exploration of this substance's carcinogenic potential. Two research teams were selected to carry...

The Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases (PhEED) Unit, within the Normandy site of ANSES's Laboratory for Animal Health, has just been appointed international reference laboratory for dourine, an equine parasitic disease. This mandate was announced by the World...

Nitrous oxide is a gas used in the medical field for its analgesic properties. It is also used and sold as a propellant in canisters for whipped cream dispensers and is therefore freely accessible in shops and on the internet. Inhalation of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing...

Although the novel influenza virus detected in pigs in China has some characteristics that favour its spread in humans, it does not pose an immediate human pandemic risk. Its appearance, however, is a reminder of the need to monitor the emergence and spread of swine influenza...

Anosmia – or loss of sense of smell – is one of the symptoms commonly encountered in COVID-19 patients, and healthcare personnel include this parameter when diagnosing patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Very recent studies1 have put forward the hypothesis that the virus infects...

To advance research, share knowledge and improve expertise on chemical risk assessment, ANSES and its partners are preparing a European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) as part of the next European Union research and innovation framework programme –...

Veterinary medicine quality is vital and must be ensured throughout the pharmaceutical chain, from design until use. Each participant in the chain has an influence on one or more parameters and needs to take precautions to guarantee and maintain veterinary medicine quality. The...

With 3185 foods listed, the CIQUAL table managed by ANSES is the reference database on the nutritional composition of the most widely consumed foods in France. The new 2020 version of CIQUAL now includes details of all the individual sugars contained in foods. It also provides...

Today, ANSES is publishing an opinion on the use of membrane processes for filtering pool water or water used for backwashing filters in public swimming pools, to safeguard the health of bathers. Its work compared the different types of membrane processes, in terms of their...

Today, ANSES is publishing its initial interpretation work on health impacts based on the results of the national exploratory campaign to measure pesticides (CNEP) in air, conducted jointly by ANSES, INERIS and the approved air quality monitoring associations (AASQAs) from June...

Open science “takes advantage of the digital transition to develop open access to publications and, to the fullest extent possible, to research data”. The results of scientific research become freely and immediately available, at no charge. Today, ANSES is making a commitment to...

Today, ANSES is publishing its risk assessment report on chemicals in heavy incontinence pads. In its expert appraisal, the Agency identified cases where the health thresholds for several chemical substances were exceeded for people with skin lesions who have to wear these...

The tiger mosquito has been established in France since 2004 and is now found in around sixty départements. It is an invasive species that can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika to humans. You can help monitor its spread by reporting sightings via the...

An article in Le Monde on 16 June, based on comments by anonymous individuals described as "whistleblowers" and a question to the government by French MP Delphine Batho, criticised the fact that scientists asked by ANSES to reflect upon toxicology studies were then selected by...

Since the late 1990s, because of their specific properties, an increasing number of nanomaterials have been incorporated into everyday products, particularly foods. Now, faced with the proliferation of engineered nanomaterials in our daily lives, many questions are being asked...

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate General for Health made an urgent request to ANSES to assess the benefit-risk ratio of maintaining the vector control (VC) practices usually implemented against dengue and other endemic diseases spread by mosquitoes. This...

To improve prevention of the risks associated with tick bites, in 2017, INRAE and its partners created the participatory "Signalement Tique" application as part of the CiTIQUE project in which ANSES is participating. From today, everyone will have access to a new version which...

Following a death in the Grand Est region of France, ANSES and the poison control centres are alerting the public to the risks associated with picking and consuming toxic wild plants that have been confused with edible ones, and specifically the risk of serious poisoning...

Following the controversy over the carcinogenic classification of glyphosate, ANSES issued a call for tenders for additional toxicological studies on the carcinogenic potential of this substance. Now that the selection process is complete, the Agency is today announcing the...

Described as having the ability to “cleanse” or “purify” the air, essential-oil based sprays and diffusers are increasingly present in our homes. Continuing the studies undertaken in 2017 on indoor air purification techniques, ANSES is publishing a toxicovigilance study on...

When asked about potential transmission of the COVID-19 disease via domestic animals, ANSES urgently convened an expert group to answer this question. It issued its first opinion on 9 March 2020. The recently acquired initial findings of investigations into the possible...

Some of the plants found in food supplements can weaken the body’s natural defences, primarily by interfering with the inflammatory defence mechanisms used to fight infection and, in particular, COVID-19. The plants concerned by the ANSES opinion include willow, meadowsweet,...

Vitamin D plays a key role in maintaining bone and muscle tissue and boosting our immune system. In the current COVID-19 epidemic, our immune defences might need to work particularly hard.  We get our vitamin D intake from food sources such as oily fish, cheese and egg yolk....

As part of France’s national action plan to reduce the use of plant protection substances, ANSES is publishing its expert appraisal on the substances requiring particular attention, based on their hazard level and on phytopharmacovigilance data. ANSES is recommending a...

Each year, in France, around a third of reported foodborne infections occur in the home. During the current lockdown period, when all meals have to be taken at home, there may be some changes to how food is stored, prepared and consumed. It is therefore essential to pay greater...

Fewer trips outside, less physical activity and more inactivity, calories and dietary imbalances... The lockdown set up to combat the COVID-19 epidemic may pose specific risks to our health. ANSES issued an internal request with a view to making recommendations to mitigate the...

Resorcinol is used in the manufacture of tyres, rubber products, adhesives and industrial resins. It is also used in certain cosmetic and hygiene products (hair dyes, mascara for professional use), as an antioxidant in food products such as shrimp, and as an antiseptic in...

Can sewage sludge produced during the COVID-19 epidemic contain the virus and spread it when slurry is applied to fields? ANSES received an urgent request to examine this issue, since the slurry spreading season is about to begin. It believes that the risk of SARS-CoV-2...

French poison control centres have reported numerous domestic accidents and poisoning cases related to COVID-19. Here is an update on the situation, together with some recommendations on how to avoid the risks. In the context of the COVID-19 health crisis, ANSES and the network...

Despite the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, many occupations have to continue, as they are essential to keeping the country running. Besides the indispensable healthcare activities, a number of other jobs cannot be carried out through teleworking during the lockdown. ANSES has...

What precautions should I take after going shopping? Does food need to be cooked to destroy the virus? Can I eat fruits and vegetables raw without any further preparation? ANSES examined the possibilities of the COVID-19 disease being transmitted via food, on the basis of the...

COVID-19: ANSES takes action to support the healthcare system Following the lead of the French Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Agencies, ANSES has offered the protective equipment and reagents it had available to hospitals near its 16 sites, to help equip healthcare...

During this period of lockdown due to the current unprecedented health crisis in the country, it is essential to keep up regular physical activity in your home. Aerobic exercises, muscle strengthening, relaxation: all these forms of daily physical activity can be practised at...

Does the arrival of COVID-19 mean we need to rethink our health monitoring systems? And how can we identify new epidemic warning signs at an early stage? These are the questions currently being addressed by European and North American researchers specialising in emerging...

When asked about potential transmission of the COVID-19 disease via contaminated domestic animals or food, ANSES urgently convened an expert group to answer this question. On the basis of their report, the Agency concluded that in light of the scientific knowledge available,...

Arnaud Leroy, CEO of ADEME, and Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, signed a framework agreement this week at the Paris International Agricultural Show. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation between the two public agencies in order to integrate human health issues into their...

Having found common ground through their concerns for equine health, ANSES and the IFCE today signed a partnership agreement at the Paris International Agricultural Show. It consolidates and strengthens the ways in which the two organisations work together in this field, while...

Christophe Degueurce, Director of EnvA, and Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, today signed a framework partnership agreement at the Paris International Agricultural Show. In doing so, the two organisations are formalising their long-standing cooperation and committing to...

The Central Fund for the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Scheme (MSA) and ANSES signed a framework partnership agreement today at the Paris International Agricultural Show, reflecting the desire of the two public interest organisations to combine their skills to protect worker...

Nico Horn, Director General of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), met with Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, on the Agency's stand at the 2020 Paris International Agricultural Show. For nearly 20 years, ANSES has been participating in EPPO...

The pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), a microscopic worm responsible for significant dieback in conifers, poses an imminent threat to French forests of maritime pine. It is currently present in Portugal and some parts of Spain, and could potentially contaminate the...

In 2018, an outbreak of citrus longhorned beetle was discovered on maple trees in Royan. This insect pest, which is a hazard to many species of ornamental, forest and fruit trees, has been subject to compulsory European control measures since 2012. Today, ANSES is publishing its...

The health of plants is increasingly threatened. What issues need to be addressed to better protect them? "Pests, especially plant pests, are one of the major contributors to the loss of production and biodiversity worldwide. Diseases and pests are emerging or re-emerging with...

As part of a novel research study combining biology and art, researchers from ANSES (INRAE-ANSES-EnvA joint research unit for molecular biology and parasitic immunology) and the SaBio research institute in Spain joined forces with several Mexican artists to explore the molecular...

Since late December 2019, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of subtype H5N8 have been identified in domestic and wild birds in Eastern Europe and Germany. ANSES conducted an emergency assessment of the level of risk of transmission of these HPAI viruses by wild...

For this 2020 edition of the Paris International Agricultural Show, ANSES is offering an insider's view of the health of plants and ecosystems. Faced with current and emerging threats related to trade globalisation and the climate emergency, ANSES is mobilising its scientific...

Lead is an element that is toxic to health, especially for young children. As an environmental pollutant, it can contaminate various media including food and airborne dust. In its expert appraisal published today, ANSES concludes that lead-contaminated dust in outdoor public...

Gilles Bloch, Chairman and CEO of Inserm, and Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, today signed a framework partnership agreement formalising their long-standing collaboration on major public health issues such as endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials, air pollution, pesticides...

ANSES is issuing an alert about a new emerging virus threatening tomato, chilli pepper and sweet pepper crops in France. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is particularly hazardous to susceptible plants. This virus can be transmitted through infected seeds, plants and...

The deployment of "5th generation" communication technology promises innovative services based on new infrastructure. These technological developments will change the ways in which the population is exposed and require the adaptation of measurement and assessment methods. As...

Following its 2018 expert appraisal on the safety of feminine hygiene products, ANSES is now publishing the results of its additional assessment. It confirms the need to provide better information to women and health professionals on the risk of menstrual toxic shock syndrome (...

ANSES is proposing to restrict chemicals found in disposable nappies, under the European chemicals regulation REACh, in order to better protect babies' health. This proposal aims to prohibit or limit the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, furans, PCBs...

The French authorities are alerting parents and carers to the risk of water-absorbing gel beads being ingested by children, particularly the under-fives. These accidents can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences. Water beads are designed to absorb up to 400 times their...

One of ANSES's main missions is to protect the public whenever plant protection products are used. The Agency estimates exposure and assesses health risks for workers and local residents as part of its work examining marketing authorisations. One of its priorities is to improve...

ANSES has conducted an assessment of the surveillance and control scheme for chemical contaminants in food implemented in France between 2010 and 2014. On the basis of a risk assessment, it noted that to a large extent the scheme did address the health issues. Areas for...

The waste management and recycling industry is central to circular economy policies and is growing all the time. The occupational health of professionals in this industry is a real challenge and was examined by ANSES in an initial expert appraisal, whose results are published...

ANSES is providing all the data from its third national study on the food consumption and dietary habits of the French population – INCA 3, published in 2017 – as Open Data. They can be consulted on the official website "data.gouv.fr". These data provide information on the...

As part of its expert appraisal on the potential health risks associated with contamination from the particles deposited by the fire at the Lubrizol plant, ANSES is today publishing its opinion on the monitoring of drinking water in the Hauts-de-France region. Following the fire...

Today, ANSES is publishing the list of projects selected as part of its two 2019 calls for research projects for the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health, with the first for projects on a general theme, and the second on the theme of "...

ANSES's work programme sets the course for its actions in all its areas of expertise: food, animal health and welfare, environmental health, plant health and protection, and occupational health. The 2020 programme confirms the orientations and commitments made by the Agency...

On Wednesday 11 December, ANSES, INRA and the Ministries responsible for health, consumer affairs and food signed a new framework agreement for the French Food Observatory (OQALI), for the period 2020-2023. This will enable the Observatory to continue and strengthen its missions...

Following the European Union's five-year re-approval of this active substance in 2017, ANSES is reviewing marketing authorisations for products containing glyphosate marketed in France, and has begun a comparative assessment with the available alternatives. Without waiting for...

ANSES and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are organising an international scientific conference on Monday 9 December dedicated to bee health and how research can contribute to risk assessment. The objective is to review both agencies' proposals on the assessment of...

ANSES has noted the decision of the Nice Administrative Court to revoke marketing authorisations for the insecticides "Transform" and "Closer" containing sulfoxaflor, an active substance approved by the European Commission. For these authorisations, which it had issued on 27...

Following the fire at the Lubrizol plant, the authorities established two management phases to control the risks of exposure via food. In the first phase, samples were taken to identify contaminants likely to have come from the fire in foodstuffs under the path of the smoke...

Herbicide-tolerant varieties (HTVs) are crop varieties that have been developed to be tolerant to a specific herbicide. Given their expansion in France over the past ten years, particularly for sunflower and rapeseed crops, and in response to public concerns, ANSES has reviewed...

Berberine-containing plants are used in food supplements primarily to regulate blood glucose and cholesterol levels, although no health claims are authorised at European level. To identify conditions likely to ensure the safety of use of these food supplements, ANSES examined...

To mark World Antibiotic Awareness Week and European Antibiotic Awareness Day, ANSES is publishing two reports reviewing the situation regarding antimicrobial resistance in animal health in 2018, and is participating in the interministerial symposium on 20 November entitled "...

ANSES is today publishing a review of the use of additives in processed foods available on the French market, as part of the OQALI food observatory operated jointly by ANSES and INRA. Using data collected on more than 30,000 products, this study has also revealed changes in the...

Manuelle Vertot, Ethics Officer at ANSES, has been reappointed for a new three-year term by decision of the Director General, Roger Genet. Manuelle Vertot was first appointed Ethics Officer in 2016. The Agency is restating its confidence in her in view of what she has...

Today, ANSES is issuing its annual calls for research projects as part of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health. The 2020 edition of this programme will include two calls for projects with total funding of around 7 million euros: a general one...

Following the publication on 7 November of an article in the scientific journal PLOS One on the toxicity of SDHI fungicides to cells cultured in vitro, ANSES points out that it is continuing its work on the potential health effects of these substances under real conditions of...

Following the 2017 salmonellosis outbreak associated with the consumption of powdered infant formula, ANSES was asked to assess the hygiene, surveillance and control measures implemented in the manufacturing sector for these products, in order to improve the control of...

With Halloween here, at the height of the season for all the pumpkins, squash and other cucurbits that brighten up our autumn dishes, it is important to remember that not all "squash" are edible. Some inedible gourds can cause food poisoning, which can sometimes be serious.  ...

Today, ANSES is publishing a summary of monitoring data on glyphosate and reviewing the knowledge currently available in France on its presence in water and food, as well as on blood concentration levels in humans. As part of its phytopharmacovigilance scheme to detect adverse...

To reduce the exposure of bees and other pollinating insects to plant protection products, ANSES recommended, in its opinion of 23 November 2018, strengthening the national provisions imposing restrictions on product use during periods when crops attract these insects. The...

ANSES has been appointed to lead the new European Reference Centre for the welfare of poultry and other small farmed animals, in collaboration with its partner organisations in Spain, Italy and Denmark. This is the second centre devoted to animal welfare in Europe after the...

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

Testing of exposure to waves emitted by mobile telephones was modified in 2016 to take changes in models and uses into account. Since then, manufacturers have been required to assess exposure under realistic conditions of use, i.e. when the telephone is placed very close to the...

Following the fire at the Lubrizol plant, on 2 October the Ministry of Agriculture asked ANSES to assess the potential food risks from the deposition resulting from the plume of smoke. The Agency is today publishing its opinion on the analyses carried out on agricultural...

Every day, firefighters face an array of risk factors, including exposure to the chemicals usually produced by combustion products during fires, and to biological and physical agents. They also face organisational constraints, such as irregular working hours, and psychosocial...

As part of its expert appraisal on the potential health risks associated with contamination from the particles deposited by the fire at the Lubrizol plant, ANSES is today publishing its opinion on the monitoring of drinking water in Normandy. On 26 September 2019, the Normandy...

Bisphenol B has endocrine properties similar to those of bisphenol A. This is the conclusion of the ANSES experts whose work is published today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. This article reports the results of an assessment of the endocrine-disrupting...

Following the fire at the Lubrizol plant, animal products such as milk, eggs and honey, as well as plant products, were impounded in many municipalities where soot had been observed (Seine-Maritime, Oise, Nord, Somme and Aisne). As part of its expert appraisal on the potential...

The large plume of smoke produced by the fire at the Lubrizol plant in Rouen, France on 26 September affected several French départements. The authorities rapidly commissioned measurements and sampling in order to assess the impact of any hazardous substances that may have been...

On 17 October 2019, ANSES and ADEME are organising a day of scientific meetings devoted to the topic of air quality. This is a major public health issue, whether it concerns indoor or outdoor air. In order to preserve and improve air quality, we need to characterise the sources...

ANSES organised the Pesti’home study to find out more about how French people use pesticides to protect their homes, gardens and pets. The study provided a comprehensive overview of pesticides used in the home, along with the conditions of use and user profiles. This is the...

On Thursday 3 October, Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé, President of UPEC (University of Paris-Est-Créteil Val-de-Marne), signed a framework partnership agreement, strengthening the two organisations' scientific cooperation in key areas of the "...

For almost 20 years, France has been officially free of bovine tuberculosis, a disease primarily affecting cattle herds. To maintain this status, surveillance and control actions aiming to bring the disease under control have been taken in certain at-risk areas. They include...

In this early autumn period, horse chestnuts, which grow and fall from the horse chestnut or conker tree, are frequently confused with sweet chestnuts, which come from the sweet or Spanish chestnut tree. In a study by ANSES on cases of confusion between plants recorded by French...

One of ANSES's main missions is to protect the public whenever plant protection products are used. The Agency estimates exposure and assesses health risks for workers and local residents as part of its work examining marketing authorisations. One of its priorities is to improve...

Three units of the Plant Health Laboratory (LSV) have been appointed European Union Reference Laboratories (EURL) for plant pests. The scope of the three mandates obtained concerns insects and mites, nematodes, and fungi and oomycota. With these three new European reference...

  On 14 January 2019, after being alerted by a group of scientists, ANSES published an opinion on the assessment of a warning signal regarding the toxicity of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides. Based on a review of all the scientific data currently available,...

In an opinion published today, ANSES has drafted specifications for further studies on the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate. The associated call for tenders is to be issued in the coming days. This research will investigate glyphosate’s possible carcinogenic mechanisms of...

Today, ANSES is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on ambient air particulate matter. Based on a systematic review of the scientific literature, ANSES confirms, with high levels of evidence, the health effects associated with a number of components of ambient air...

Between 2010 and 2015, grouped births of children with Transverse Agenesis of the Upper Limbs (TAUL) were reported in three French départements: Ain, Loire Atlantique and Morbihan. In answer to questions by the affected families, the Ministries of Health, Ecological Transition...

ANSES calls for continued vigilance to avoid accidents when using disinfectant products for swimming pools and spas. The Agency recommends strictly observing the instructions for use and safety precautions, only handling the products outdoors or otherwise in a well-ventilated...

On 8 July, ANSES and the French National Research Agency (ANR) will once again join forces to organise a Science Day devoted to research on endocrine disruptors. This new edition will also provide an opportunity to review the scientific advances and challenges at the heart of...

Huanglongbing disease is one of the most significant threats to citrus crops in the world today. While it affects many producing countries, particularly in South-East Asia, America and Africa, the Mediterranean region is one of the only regions still free of the disease. ANSES...

Following several reports of severe intoxication, including two deaths, ANSES and the network of poison control centres are drawing attention to the risks of confusing toxic and edible plants. The Agency is calling for greater vigilance and has issued advice on avoiding the risk...

Infants, children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, postmenopausal women and the elderly have specific physiological needs that call for appropriate diets. Today, ANSES is publishing four expert opinions on the nutrition of these population groups and is...

Today, ANSES is publishing a new expert appraisal on the health effects associated with exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields. In view of the data available, the Agency is reiterating its 2010 conclusions on the possible association between exposure to low-frequency...

The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, within ANSES, is calling for continued vigilance when administering the veterinary medicinal product REGUMATE EQUINE to control the oestrus cycle in mares. Because of its hormonal action this product can cause adverse effects...

ANSES is publishing its expert appraisal work on ammonium, potassium and sodium persulphate substances used mainly in hair bleaching products. The Agency has concluded that the use of persulphates poses health risks to hairdressing professionals and consumers, as these...

On 3 June 2019, Roger Genet was reappointed by Presidential Decree for a new three-year term as Director General of ANSES. In May 2016, Roger Genet was appointed to lead ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health & Safety. During his term of...

ANSES is today publishing its expert appraisal on pinnatoxins, a family of emerging marine biotoxins that have been detected in mussels from Mediterranean lagoons. When ingested by mice, these marine biotoxins cause acute neurotoxic effects. ANSES used the available consumption...

On 3 June 2019, Sophie Le Quellec was appointed Communication and Institutional Relations Director at ANSES and Head of Cabinet to the Agency's Director General. A specialist in communication issues related to scientific and technical subjects of public interest, Sophie Le...

ANSES is today publishing its opinion on the endocrine-disrupting nature of the active substance epoxiconazole used in fungicides. On the basis of the criteria of the new European legislation on endocrine disruptors, the Agency confirmed the endocrine-disrupting properties of...

The French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANMV) inaugurated its new building today, in the presence of Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Regional Council, Jean-Luc Chenut, President of the Ille-et-Vilaine...

ANSES is today publishing the results of its expert appraisal on health risks for workers in France exposed to crystalline silica, a mineral used or present in many different industries. In France, nearly 365,000 workers could potentially be exposed to respirable crystalline...

Now that the use of LEDs for lighting has become widespread and the number of LED objects has proliferated, ANSES is publishing an update of its 2010 expert appraisal on the health effects of LEDs in light of new scientific knowledge. The Agency confirms the toxicity of blue...

Caroline Semaille was appointed Managing Director General of the ANSES Regulated Products Division on 29 April 2019. She succeeds Françoise Weber, who decided to retire. Ms Semaille, a Public Health Hospital Practitioner, will now coordinate the Agency’s various departments...

In order to protect consumers more effectively from the risks of skin allergies, ANSES and the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) have jointly submitted a restriction proposal for sensitising substances under the European chemicals regulation (REACh). This proposal aims to ban or...

The food additive E171, which consists of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles, mainly in nanoparticle form, is used in many different food products. Following the expert appraisal work it conducted in 2017, ANSES was asked in February 2019 to review the most recent studies on the...

Pesticides disperse into the natural environment where they can transform into one or more other compounds called "metabolites". These chemical metabolites can potentially contaminate water resources and even water supplied to consumers. Water quality controls are increasingly...

Titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form (TiO2-NP) is used in many industrial and commercial applications. ANSES was asked to define a toxicity reference value (TRV) for this substance as part of its national mission to develop health reference values. Following an in-depth...

In France, the use of dietary supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate, presented as being able to contribute to joint comfort, has increased significantly. Adverse reactions potentially associated with the consumption of these food supplements have been...

Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and David Alis, President of the University of Rennes 1, today signed a scientific framework agreement aimed at strengthening their cooperation on environmental health, focused primarily on the "One Health" concept covering human, animal...

ANSES, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the National Food Institute of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Republic of Korea's National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) are holding an international conference on the theme...

First detected in France in the Finistère region in May 2017, the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum poses a significant risk for many ornamental and forest-growing plants (rhododendrons, vibernum and larch trees). ANSES issues recommendations to monitor the spread of this...

At the Paris International Agricultural Show today, Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and Michel Eddi, President Managing Director of CIRAD, signed a five-year framework partnership agreement. The two organisations are thus strengthening their numerous existing...

Placed on the European Union's list of invasive species of concern, giant hogweed presents risks both to the flora of the environments it colonises and to human health. In response to this observation, ANSES was asked to summarise knowledge regarding this plant and make risk...

Today ANSES is publishing its opinion and report on so-called alternative anti-scale (Alt-AS) processes in drinking water distribution systems. The Agency stresses first of all that Alt-AS manufacturers and distributors have a responsibility to provide evidence of the safety and...

With the constant changes in eating habits and the marketing of novel foods, food allergies continue to be a public health concern.  As a result of its expert assessment work, ANSES found that there was a lack of data on the prevalence of food allergies in France. The Agency...

As part of the Government's action plan on plant protection products and reduced dependence on pesticides in agriculture, ANSES is today publishing the results of its expert appraisal and its recommendations to strengthen the regulatory framework for the protection of bees and...

Today, ANSES published its assessment of the risks of chemicals found in baby diapers. Based on tests conducted on disposable diapers and their use, the Agency’s assessment highlighted several chemicals for which safety threshold values were exceeded. With regard to the possible...

ANSES has examined the ruling of 15 January 2019 by the French administrative court of Lyon overriding the marketing authorisation decision for Roundup Pro 360. It should be noted that, in order to protect human and environmental health, ANSES is responsible for implementing...

A group of scientists recently warned of the potential health risks of using succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides in agriculture. In this context, ANSES asked a group of independent experts to examine the hypotheses put forward by these scientists. The experts...

Today, ANSES is publishing the list of projects selected as part of its two 2018 calls for research projects for the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health: the first for projects on a general theme, and the second on the theme of "radiofrequencies...

In view of the numerous cases of very young children(usually under the age of 6) ingesting button batteries, with serious and sometimes fatal consequences, the health authorities are once again alerting parents, carers and health professionals to this little-known health risk...

The palm weevil is one of the most damaging insect pests of palm trees, and is a threat to plant biodiversity in many countries. This insect has spread rapidly along the Mediterranean coast in the last ten years or more, and is classified as a regulated quarantine pest and a...

Workers can potentially be exposed to numerous health risk factors through their occupations. The question of multiple exposure is a major challenge for all those active in the field of occupational health, safety and prevention. As part of the 2016-2020 National Occupational...

ANSES, the DGS and the DGCCRF are reiterating the risks associated with preparing and handling "slime", a sticky and elastic putty for kneading that is very popular with children and adolescents. The repeated and prolonged handling of this putty can cause skin irritations and...

ANSES is holding its annual scientific conference on bee health. This event is an opportunity for the Agency to review the latest major developments in research and surveillance in this field. For this seventh edition, ANSES is inviting the various stakeholders involved in the...

Following the five-year re-approval of this active substance at European level in December 2017, ANSES is reassessing marketing authorisations for products containing glyphosate. For products for which an application for authorisation or re-authorisation has been submitted, the...

ANSES’s Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort laboratory is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its establishment in Ploufragan in Western France, the most important French livestock region. On this occasion, the laboratory will be reviewing the highlights of its history and the major...

During the symposium organised to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the creation of the ANSES Laboratory in Ploufragan (Côtes d'Armor), on Thursday 29 November 2018, Roger Genet, Director General of ANSES, and Stéphane Siebert, Director of Technological Research at the CEA,...

ANSES is publishing all the data from its Infant Total Diet Study (iTDS). Available as OpenData on the official website data.gouv.fr, this document presents all the data on concentrations of chemical residues or contaminants in the diet of children under three years of age. "...

ANSES is today issuing its annual calls for research projects as part of the National Research Programme on Environmental and Occupational Health. The 2019 edition of this programme will include two calls for projects with total funding of 8 million euros: a general one on the...

Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health issue in France: resistance to antibiotics calls into question the efficacy of treatments for infections occurring in humans and animals alike. At its annual symposium on this issue, ANSES will be presenting the result of its two...

Plant protection products containing metam-sodium are used in market gardening and horticulture to disinfect the soil. Following the substance's approval at European level, ANSES reassessed the dossiers and notified the industrial companies concerned of its intention to withdraw...

The health risks associated with exposure to artificial UV radiation from sunbeds have been well established for many years now. ANSES points out that recent data on the subject support previous assessments: there is a proven cancer risk associated with UV radiation from...

Despite medical advances, cancer remains the leading cause of death in France.  While active smoking, alcohol consumption and an unbalanced diet continue to be the main causes of cancer mortality, the environment has a real impact on the risk of cancer, although it remains...

Button batteries are found in many products, including remote controls and certain toys. Serious and sometimes fatal accidents related to the ingestion of these button batteries by young children are regularly reported by the poison control centres. Even in the absence of...

In recent years, the increasing use of tyre granulates for sports pitches and playgrounds has raised concerns about their potential impact on health and the environment. ANSES has analysed the studies and expert assessments currently available on this topic and reports the main...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

In early March, 27 European countries declared outbreaks with the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) of the H5N8 or H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, responsible for a bird flu epizootic in many of these countries. ANSES is highly involved in surveillance of...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...