Created on 1 July 2010, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) is a scientific body active in the fields of food safety, occupational and environmental health, animal health and welfare, and plant health. ANSES's core activity is to conduct independent and pluralistic expert assessments in order to evaluate health risks and provide the competent authorities with scientific data and recommendations that are essential to take the necessary measures preserve public health. These assessments are carried out with the support of more than 15 scientific expert committees and numerous related ad hoc working groups involving more than 800 external scientific experts.

ANSES issues and withdraws marketing authorizations for veterinary drugs, plant protection products, fertilizers, and biocides. It also provides risk assessments of chemicals within the framework of the European REACH regulations.

ANSES reports to four ministries, two of which have direct responsibilities in the area of food safety (MASA, MTSSF). These ministries use risk assessments prepared by ANSES as basis for risk management measures.

ANSES conducts monitoring, alert, vigilance, research and reference activities. It also defines, implements and funds scientific and technical research programmes. The agency relies on a network of nine reference and research laboratories which operate in three main areas: animal health and welfare, food safety (chemical and microbiological), and plant health and hold numerous reference mandates (more than 60 national mandates, 13 EU mandates, and more than 20 international mandates from WHO, FAO, and WOAH).