With ANSES, France thus has a structure unique in France and a model envied in Europe in terms of reference, surveillance and research. In support of its risk assessment activities, the 600 scientists and technicians of this network of laboratories devote themselves to work on the identification of major pathogens in animal health and plant health, the development of methods for identifying contaminants biological, physical or chemical food and water.
The diversity of professions represented within ANSES and its laboratories allows for a multidisciplinary approach to the subjects covered. Bacteriologists, virologists, chemists and parasitologists develop knowledge about pathogens. Their coordination with immunologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, eco-toxicologists, bio-, pharmaco-, toxicokineticians, with the help of modellers and statisticians enables the Agency to develop very operational work in response to health issues . Understanding the entire system at the origin of food-borne illnesses or epidemics, including the resistance that pathogens develop to pharmaceutical or phytopharmaceutical treatments, is essential to provide relevant technical support to risk managers.