News

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 Agriculture, Food and the Environment), Gabrielle Bouleau recently joined LISIS [1] , where she is studying how public policies take account of environmental issues and risks. A member of the Committee since 14 December 2018, Gabrielle Bouleau takes over from philosopher Pierre Le Coz, Chair of the Committee since its founding in 2011. Gabrielle Bouleau began her career as head of the public engineering department with the Departmental Directorate for Agriculture and Forestry in the Drôme département of south-east France. She then worked in engineer training before moving into research with the French National School of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry. In 2005, she joined the Cemagref research institute and, in 2007, she obtained a PhD in environmental science on changing water policies and indicators in France. After a post-doctoral position at the University of California, Berkeley, she shifted the focus of her work to political science and obtained an accreditation to supervise research in this field in 2017. Her research studies focus on environmental policies in France, Europe and the United States. In particular, she looks at how the political agenda takes account of new environmental issues and how these issues are translated into public policy and new activities. She is also in charge of “public policies, risks and adaptation” at the EcoSocio department of INRAE, and responsible for two master's modules at the École des Ponts engineering school. In addition, she is the author of a recent publication on the politicisation of environmental issues: “ Politisation des enjeux écologiques. De la forme au motif environnemental” . Gabrielle Bouleau explained that her application for the position of chair of the ANSES Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest was motivated by "the ambition to ensure that the Committee remains independent and pluralistic, in order to promote balanced debate and efficient working”. ANSES Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest On its founding in 2010, ANSES set up a Committee for Ethical Standards and Prevention of Conflicts of Interest (CDPCI). The Committee’s brief is to issue opinions on questions relating to ethics and the independence of the Agency's work. A key component of Agency governance, the Committee is made up of between five and eight members, appointed by ministerial order. Four new members were appointed by order on 28 July 2020: Ms Sophie GERBER, Professor Didier HOUSSIN, Ms Cécile MOIROUD and Mr Jean-Claude PIFFARETTI. They join the existing members: Ms Gabrielle BOULEAU, Ms Isabelle DOUSSAN, Ms Marie-Angèle HERMITTE and Ms Claire SABBAGH. The mandate of CDPCI members expires on 21 April 2021. Gabrielle Bouleau was elected as Chair by the members of the CDPCI at the inaugural meeting of the partially renewed committee on 16 September 2020. [1] Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Social Sciences and Innovation

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 water that pose a threat to humans. To harmonise and improve water surveillance, quality monitoring and analysis activities, the Agency is offering fact sheets to aid management of the cyanotoxin risk for the various water uses. It is also providing useful guidance to managers on imposing or lifting bans on freshwater fish consumption in relation to the cyanobacterial blooms that can produce these toxins.

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 substance liable to cause skin allergies, which has been found in sport clothing. As part of this consultation, all stakeholders will be able to comment on the ANSES proposal or provide any additional information in their possession. ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment will then send its final opinion to the European Commission. If the substance is classified, the Commission will then decide on its inclusion in the CLP Regulation. If the proposal made by ANSES is accepted, this will have direct consequences on the labelling of mixtures containing this compound.

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 hazardous to fertility and foetal development. This proposal has been the subject of a public consultation on the ECHA website since 3 August 2020, giving all stakeholders the opportunity to express their views and provide any additional information they may have. A final opinion by ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment will then be sent to the European Commission, which will decide on the relevance of adding the lithium salts to the CLP Regulation. This will have direct consequences on product labelling and could eventually lead to a more restrictive regulatory framework for their use in Europe.