Ambassade de France en Chine The French Food Safety System French-German food safety seminar Beijing, 6.11.2015
The French Farm 500 000 holdings 19.1 million head 24.5 million tonnes Plant: 38 000 M Animal: 23 200 M 68 million tonnes Domestic market: 63 M consumers Exports: 56 000 M Imports: 44 000 M
Principles 1. Separation of the functions: assessment / management 2. A risk-based approach from the farm to the fork 3. A continuous chain of command top-down 4. An administration under quality procedures
Separation of the functions Risk assessment Risk management Economic support European Union DG SANTE DG AGRI European Commission France DGAL General Directorate for Food DGPE
Risk assessment ANSES contributes to ensuring: human health and safety in the fields of environment, work and food protecting animal health and welfare protecting plant health Assess nutritional and health risks and benefits Conduct public health monitoring missions Conduct, coordinate and initiate research projects Recommend public health measures Conduct laboratory reference missions Provide training and information and contribute to public debate Authorise marketing of veterinary medicinal products Collaborate with European and international agencies
Risk management 3 Ministries in charge of Food Safety Ambassade de France en Chine Ministry for Agriculture, Agrofood & Forestry Food safety of products of animal origin Animal & plant health Ministry of Finances Consumer protection & loyalty (labelling) Ministry of Health Potable water
An integrated & risk-based approach Ministry for Agriculture (MoA): from the FARM to the FORK
Missions of the Veterinary Services (MoA) Inspection, surveillance & control Animal health Veterinary drugs Approval of establishments Food safety Risk assessment and scientific support Animal welfare Export certification Residues Animal feeding Import control
Annual official controls (2014) - MoA Plant Health Animal Health & Welfare Food Safety Exports 8 000 on-site inspections per year 35 000 on-site inspections per year 78 000 on-site inspections per year 300 000 certificates per year
A continuous chain of command From the National level (design of policies) To the Local services (implementation and enforcement of policies) Via a Regional level (coordination) Ministry for Agriculture, Agrofood & Forestry Directorate General for Food Préfecture de Région Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Food & Forestry (DRAAF) 27 regions Préfecture de Département Departmental Directorate for the People s Protection (DDPP) 101 departments (31 with coastlines) Staff: 5 515 civil servants including: - 1 226 official veterinarians - 4 531 official assistants 12 700 sanitary veterinarians
The National Veterinary & Phytosanitary Survey Brigade (BNEVP) Under the direct authority of the Director General (DGAl) Geographical competence on the whole territory Ambassade de France en Chine 1. Legal inquiries and fight against organized sanitary deliquency 2. Implementing national surveys 3. Technical support for local services
Quality approach A voluntary approach since 1996 (Directorate General for Food - MoA) Ambassade de France en Chine Guarantee reliability of the inspection Harmonize the inspection procedures Make credible & transparente the inspection system Address a quicker anwser in case of emergency
Quality approach Intranet Information System Methodology inspection tools Ambassade de France en Chine SIGAL Provides Inspection checklist Vademecum Inspection data On site inspection Issuance Report
Quality approach Qualification of the inspectors Senior agent Qualification (criteria) Tutor agent Auditor agent Junior agent Criteria of maintenance Qualification maintained Supervisor agent Criteria of maintenance Non respect of the criteria Modification of the level of qualification Non respect of the criteria Modification of the level of qualification
Optimizing the inspection ressource Priorisation of the controls: National instructions, foodborne diseases, non compliance Ambassade de France en Chine Random or targeted inspections Frequency of routine inspections: risk categorie (food plants: note I III) Inspection follow-up: prevention, improvement, punishment
Official sampling program Ordering body: EU (+++), national level (MoA), local level (Préfet) Control program: targeted fraud, non compliance, foodborne dis.,.. Surveillance program: random estimation of a prevalence Ambassade de France en Chine Chemical residues Prohibited substances (e.g. chloramphenicol) Residues of veterinary drugs (antibiotics ) Contaminants (pesticides, dioxins, heavy metals ) Analyses: MoA approved labs.
Official sampling program: antibiotics in milk (2013)
Controls at farm level Farmers obligations Hold a register (audits, analysis, veterinary prescriptions, treatments ) Respect rules on animal identification, animal welfare, milking & hygiene practices, veterinary drugs Designate a «Vétérinaire sanitaire» Failure cuts on subsidies France: officially free of TB & Brucellosis
Controls at farm level Official controls at farm level Random / targeted Cross-compliance controls (linked to EU subsidies): veterinary drugs, animal identification, animal welfare, hygiene practices Surveillance/control of the residues (milk / antibiotics), contaminants, pathogenes (Salmonella in poultry) Animal health outbreaks: policy measures Analyses: MoA approved laboratories
Controls at farm level Sanitary visit Mandatory & performed by a «vétérinaire sanitaire» Once or twice a year, for cattle, pigs, poultry Audit on hygiene practices & biosecurity Awarness of certain topics: abortion, antibioresistance Report to the Offcials through SIGAL
Controls at farm level Payment / milk quality National scheme of control, handled by professionals under competent authorities supervision Bonus / malus system to promote the quality of the milk Mandatory criteria: Somatic cells Total germs Drug residus Proteins Fats Freezing point
Ambassade de France en Chine Thank you for your attention