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Alternatives Antibiotiques Elevages
27/04/2018 —
News

ANSES assesses the efficacy and safety of alternatives to antibiotics in animal husbandry and considers the need for a specific status for these products

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 substances including compounds, plants, plant extracts and micro-organisms, which are used as alternatives to antibiotics. However, it emphasises the diversity of the data available to assess their safety and efficacy, and their ability to select resistant bacteria. ANSES also stresses the need to reflect on which classes of alternatives intended for use in the main animal production sectors should get first priority for in-depth research to remove uncertainties about their efficacy and safety. In addition, the Agency recommends raising the issue of the legal status of these products at the European level as part of the plan to tackle antibiotic resistance, in order to investigate the relevance and feasibility of creating a specific status for products contributing to a reduction in the use of antibiotics, without considering them as veterinary medicinal products.
Bien Etre Animal
25/04/2018 —
News

ANSES proposes a definition of animal welfare and sets the foundation for its research and expert appraisal work

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 for its assessment. The Opinion identifies numerous assessment grids aiming to objectively measure the conditions for animal welfare and encourages the development of specific tools depending on the species, development stage and environmental conditions of the animals. It provides an essential framework for ANSES's future research and expert appraisal work, and will serve as a basis for subsequent Opinions in this area.
Virus Alimentation
24/04/2018 —
News

Viruses in food: a new national reference mandate for ANSES's Laboratory for Food Safety

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 regarding foodborne viruses, adds to the 13 national and two European mandates already held by this laboratory. This new mission further strengthens ANSES's commitment to addressing major health issues.
Créosote
23/04/2018 —
News

ANSES restricts the use of products containing creosote

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 contexts). As a result of these investigations, the Agency has decided to restrict the use of creosote in France to the treatment of railway sleepers. Even so, these marketing authorisations are accompanied by stringent restrictions on their conditions of use, to avoid worker exposure and reduce environmental risk. ANSES is also suggesting that a substitution plan be implemented by the rail network operators in order to phase out creosote progressively. The other uses of creosote, such as the treatment of wood for telephone and power line poles and also for fences, are no longer permitted, due to the risks to the environment.
Changement Climatique
19/04/2018 —
News

Effects of climate change in the workplace: increased occupational risks and a need for action to be taken in the world of work

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 climate, the environment and occupational health in order to identify the occupational risks potentially increased by climate change. It highlighted the fact that all occupational risks are and will be affected by changes to the climate and environment, with the exception of those associated with noise and artificial radiation. The main causes are rising temperatures, an alteration of the biological and chemical environment, and a change in the frequency and intensity of certain climate hazards. ANSES recommends strengthening action in the world of work to promote awareness of the health effects of climate change, particularly through the use of information and training. The Agency especially recommends encouraging all the parties concerned to immediately start integrating the climate change impacts that are already perceptible, or that can be anticipated, in their occupational risk assessment approaches, in order to deploy suitable preventive measures.
Changement Climatique
18/04/2018 —
News

The impact of global change on the emergence of plant diseases and pests in Europe

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. This two-day event will review the current state of scientific knowledge worldwide and provide a forum for sharing experiences on the reasons for the emergence of plant diseases and pests, as well as their impact on the environment.
Fongicides
18/04/2018 —
News

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides used in agriculture: ANSES sets up a dedicated expert group

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 subject and, in particular, to immediately examine the evidence mentioned by the scientists raising the alert.
Mélatonine
11/04/2018 —
News

ANSES recommends that certain populations avoid the consumption of food supplements containing melatonin

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 of consumption of this type of supplement, led ANSES to conduct an assessment of the potential health risks. In the Opinion it is publishing today, the Agency highlights the existence of populations and situations at risk, for which the consumption of melatonin in the form of a food supplement should be avoided or medical advice should be sought. This mainly concerns pregnant and breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people suffering from inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, people with epilepsy, asthma, or suffering from mood, behaviour or personality disorders, and anyone being treated with medication. People carrying out any activity requiring sustained vigilance where drowsiness could pose a safety problem should also avoid its consumption.
pipette
06/04/2018 —
News

ANSES launches a database of more than 500 toxicity reference values

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 the various players involved in risk governance: companies, public expert appraisal bodies and authorities tasked with risk management. Today, ANSES is publishing a database of more than 500 TRVs, including those it has established itself (around 60, for nearly 40 substances) and those by other organisations, which it uses to conduct its expert appraisal work.

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