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04/11/2015 —
News

New Memorandum of Understanding signed between ANSES and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

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 relation to research and risk assessment.
Viandes Rouges
26/10/2015 —
News

Red meat, processed meat and cancer: an update on the new classification by the IARC

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, fermentation, etc.) as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). ANSES studied the subject in 2011 in the framework of a comprehensive review of the relationship between nutrition and cancer that already clearly showed a convincing relationship between the consumption of red meat or processed meats (delicatessen meat products) and an increase in the probability of developing certain cancers. ANSES's recommendations, which remain applicable, aim to limit the consumption of meat to 500g per week at the most and, by a balanced diet, to vary the sources of animal protein (eggs, meat, fish) and the types of meat. The Agency reiterates that cancers are complex diseases, and that the risks related to the consumption of a particular food must be set against the benefits they can provide, including their nutritional value.
Flamme
22/10/2015 —
News

To prevent the risk of domestic fires in France, alternative measures should be used rather than treating upholstered furniture with flame-retardants

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 potential health risks that would result from the systematic treatment of domestic upholstered furniture with FRs as a way to reduce the risk of fire and the corresponding number of victims. A first expert appraisal report, published at the end of 2014, concluded that the systematic use of FRs in upholstered furniture would not significantly reduce the severity of domestic fires. The report recommended implementing other measures for managing fire risk. Today, the Agency has published the second part of its expert appraisal, on the related health and environmental risks. The data on the substances used are uneven in terms of both availability and quality and it is consequently impossible to rule out potential toxicity to health and/or effects on the environment. In this context, the Agency advises against the systematic use of FRs to treat domestic upholstered furniture. It recommends focusing on and encouraging the implementation of other fire safety measures in housing, likely to reduce the frequency and severity of fires, and which have proved their effectiveness in countries where they have been implemented.
05/10/2015 —
News

ANSES signs a scientific cooperation agreement with its Japanese counterpart in the field of food safety

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), signed an agreement confirming their commitment to cooperation in the area of food risk assessment.
23/09/2015 —
News

Françoise Weber is appointed as ANSES's Deputy Director General for Regulated Products

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 Director General for Regulated Products, as of 23 September.
Abeilles
15/09/2015 —
News

Bee health: impact of co-exposure by colonies to pesticides and infectious agents

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.
Qualité Air Intérieur
15/09/2015 —
News

Indoor air quality: ANSES provides support for the labelling of furnishing products

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, construction materials, interior decoration products and furnishing products are regularly cited as sources of pollution due to their emission of volatile and of semi-volatile pollutants. Since 2013, the labelling of construction materials and interior decoration products sold in France has been mandatory and the 3rd French Environment & Health Action Plan provides for the extension of this measure to furnishing products. In this context, ANSES was asked by the Ministries in charge of health and the ecology to identify and establish a list of chemicals that are of primary importance. Today ANSES published the list of 31 substances it considers as having first priority, in order to support the public authorities in the future implementation of furnishing product labelling with regard to volatile pollutants.
Enceinte Ferroviaire
10/09/2015 —
News

Air pollution in underground railway areas and health risks for workers

Air quality in underground railway areas has been a subject of concern for a number of years. Due to the air pollution that has been found in underground railway areas and the amount of time that workers spend there during their work hours, questions have been raised regarding the long-term health risks to workers linked to the air pollutants found in these zones. For this reason, ANSES was asked by the Ministries for health, labour and the environment to examine the issue. The findings of the report published today on the health risks of fine particles for different types of workers whose activities take place in these areas, have led the Agency to recommend continuing to implement measures for the prevention and reduction of exposure to pollutants in the air. In addition, the Agency recommends that research work be conducted on the specific long-term toxicity of particles present in the air of underground railway areas.
Composition Nutritionnelle
22/07/2015 —
News

No significant difference in the nutritional composition between best-value, own-brand and national-brand products

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 characterising the nutritional quality of the food offer. The study found that “budget”-type products ("entry-level" and "hard-discount" own brands) do not appear to be of inferior nutritional quality. The study also shows that entry-level own brands provide a smaller range of products than the other market segments. Furthermore, own-brand products tend to provide a wider range of nutritional information on their packaging.

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