France
Dernière mise à jour le 21 décembre 2023.
* Institution hôte du point focal national auprès de l'EFSA. Pour plus d'informations sur le réseau des points focaux auprès de l'EFSA, veuillez consulter le le site internet de l'EFSA.
© worldfoodsafetyalmanac.bfr.berlin
Le règlement (CE) N° 178/2002 du Parlement européen et du conseil du 28 janvier 2002, stipulant les principes généraux et les exigences de la loi sur les aliments, est le fondement de la législation alimentaire en Europe et en France.
Les mesures gouvernementales relatives à la sécurité des aliments reposent sur les connaissances scientifiques et plus particulièrement sur l'évaluation scientifique des risques.
En France, s’agissant de la sécurité sanitaire des aliments, l'évaluation des risques et leur gestion sont institutionnellement séparées. L’évaluation des risques est effectuée par l'Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (Anses) et donne lieu à des avis scientifiques qui sont rendus publics sur leur site internet. En plus d’évaluer les risques sanitaires sur un large spectre de risques pour la santé humaine, animale, végétale et l'environnement, l'Anses réalise et finance des travaux de recherche et prend part à plusieurs dispositifs nationaux (dispositifs de vigilance, réseaux et plateformes de surveillance) qui lui permettent de détecter des signaux d'alerte et d’intervenir en appui des pouvoirs publics contre des maladies et expositions néfastes.
La gestion des risques est principalement de la compétence de la Direction Générale de l‘Alimentation (DGAL) au ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire (MASA). La Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS) au ministère de la Santé et de la Prévention (MSP) intervient dans la protection de la santé de la population relative aux différents usages de l’eau. La Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) au ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique (MEFSIN) est responsable de la sécurité sanitaire des matériaux et emballages en contact avec les aliments.
L'Anses délivre et retire les autorisations de mise sur le marché des médicaments vétérinaires, des produits phytopharmaceutiques, des matières fertilisantes et des biocides. Pour ce faire, elle évalue leur efficacité et les risques qu'ils représentent pour la santé humaine et les écosystèmes.
Les ministères s’appuient sur les travaux scientifique de l’Anses pour prendre des mesures de gestion des risques.
These general directorates have a dual responsibility:
- ‘political’ – through the development of regulations at the national level and also through a central administration that ensures French representation in international and European authorities.
- ‘operational’ – through decentralised services located in each region and department in France whose mission is to control the implementation of health and food regulations.
Risk communication is conducted by the ministries and by ANSES when relevant. The Codex Contact Point in France is located at the Secrétariat général des affaires européennes (General Secretariat for European Affairs), which is under the authority of the Prime Minister.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
| Name | Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty |
|---|---|
| Acronym | MASA |
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| Location | Paris |
| URL | http://agriculture.gouv.fr |
In the field of food safety, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (MASA), Directorate General for Food (DGAL) is responsible for agricultural policy, for the safety of the entire food chain, including animal feed. MASA prepares draft legislation in this area and is also responsible for controls and inspection. MASA is also responsible for fighting food crime.
MASA's portfolio encompasses plant protection products, including residues, veterinary medicinal products, GMOs and zoonoses.
The area of work of MASA extends beyond food safety to include plant health, plant protection, animal health and animal welfare. In France there are two RASFF contact points, one is at MASA and the other at MEFSIN (for its field of competence).
Ministry of Economy, Finances and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
| Name | Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty |
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| Acronym | MEFSIN |
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| Location | Paris |
| URL | http://www.economie.gouv.fr |
The Ministry of Economy, Finances and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (MEFSIN), Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) is responsible for consumer policy. In the area of food safety, MEFSIN is responsible for food contact materials and packaging.
Ministry of Health and Prevention
| Name | Ministry of Health and Prevention |
|---|---|
| Acronym | MSP |
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| Responsibilities |   
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| Location | Paris |
| URL | http://www.sante.gouv.fr |
The Ministry of Solidarity and Health (MSP), Directorate General for Health (DGS) deals with public health policy, food safety, and mineral and drinking water. MSP defines objectives and priorities for public health policy, sets the legislative and regulatory framework, develops public health plans and national health programmes and ensures their implementation. In collaboration with MASA, MSP is in charge of investigations on foodborne diseases.
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety
| Name | French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety |
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| Acronym | ANSES |
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| Location | Maisons-Alfort |
| URL | https://www.anses.fr/en |
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 15 scientific expert committees and related ad hoc working groups involving more than 800 external scientific experts.
In compliance with the European regulatory framework for GMOs, ANSES participates in the assessment of GMO dossiers.
The Agency also assesses the effectiveness and risks of veterinary medicinal products, plant protection products, fertilisers, growing media and their adjuvants, as well as biocides, with a view to delivering marketing authorisations. It also provides assessments of chemicals within the framework of the European REACH regulations.
ANSES reports to five ministries, three of which have responsibilities in the area of food safety (MASA, MEFSIN, MSP). 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).
Regional and local levels
France consists of 18 regions and 101 departments (including five departments and regions located overseas) plus other overseas territories with special status. Feed and food inspections are carried out by the decentralised services (regional and local offices) of the three ministries in charge of food and feed safety.
