The French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) is a public body reporting to the French Ministers for ecology, for health and for employment.
In order to fulfil its aim of protecting human health, the Agency’s missions are:
Contribute to ensuring health safety in all types of surroundings, including occupational environments Assess environmental health risks, and more specifically within occupational environment Coordinate environmental health and occupational health expertise Use all means to provide the government with the expertise and scientific and technical support needed to develop and implement legislation and regulations Inform the public and contribute to the public debate
While the AFSSET focuses particularly on coordinating expertise in assessing risks related to chemical substances, its activities encompass a wide scope of topics, from chemicals to electromagnetic fields, from environmental to noise pollution, and occupational exposure.
The Agency plays a central role in the provision of information and scientific expertise in the area of environmental and occupational health. It also has close relations with both the French and international scientific communities, especially in Europe.
It organises a network of bodies with scientific expertise relevant to its areas of competence and works in partnership with over thirty establishments.
The AFSSET is assisted in its work by a six committees of specialized experts (CSE). It can also provide incentive-raising funding via environmental and occupational health research programmes.
The AFSSET can be called on by government departments, public bodies or registered associations. It can also intervene on any issue that comes within the scope of its activities.
The AFSSET Opinions, Recommendations and other work are made available to the public and posted on its Web site.
More information :
Work programme 2009 : summary 
- full version (french) 
Mandates report 2002 - 2008 : summary
