News

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 management recommendations. With its expert assessment work completed, the Agency recommends the creation of a monitoring system and the use of available control methods to eradicate giant hogweed populations in high-priority areas.

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 therefore delivers a series of recommendations to ensure better monitoring of food allergies, and recommends providing better information to doctors as well as to consumers subject to food allergies.

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 other pollinating insects. The aim of these recommendations is to further reduce bee exposure to plant protection products.

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 European regulations on the national level with regard to the marketing authorisation of regulated products (plant protection products, biocides and veterinary medicinal products). It also contributes to improving these regulations by making them more effective and transparent. Every day, ANSES applies the precautionary principle through stringent risk assessment implemented by independent scientific expert committees. As early as 2016, the Agency was the first national authority to withdraw marketing authorisations for 126 glyphosate-based products containing a potentially genotoxic co-formulant. ANSES is currently re-assessing all products containing glyphosate sold in France and is fully committed to assessing the alternatives to glyphosate use, in compliance with the government’s commitments. With regard to the ruling by the French administrative court of Lyon, ANSES contests any error of assessment in the application of national or European regulations.