France Bon Appétit

The high level of safety of the agricultural and food products destined for the French and international markets is the fruit of an intense joint effort by French and European public authorities and by all of the players of the sector, including retailers. It is the result of a stated will to enforce a strict safety policy on food and beverage items, alongside the development of French culture and know-how. France’s food safety system is effective, responsive and modern.

pean legislative framework…

As part of its consumer protection responsibilities, Europe develops health standards for food that are enforced in member States. European legislation aims to harmonise national measures, provide the foundations for the domestic market and adopt measures as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The European regulation imposes to the farmers and food processing companies an obligation of results and not only of means.
Ensuring the safety of food products in France requires strict application of regulatory changes throughout the entire production and supply chain.

… with specific organisation in France

Around 4,500 agents from veterinary services and crop protection divisions are working in the field to ensure that health standards and regulations are enforced throughout the country. These actions to protect animal health are backed by a dense network of 8,600 veterinarians covering every region in France. This organization, specific to France, has proven its effectiveness.
The entire food production and supply chain puts safety first

The quality of French food and beverage products is based on mandatory, extremely demanding health inspections, ongoing surveillance that is constantly enhanced by using increasingly precise analysis tools. From large and small firms to ingredient suppliers to packaging manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers… all links in the food production and supply chain invest in safety, devoting 3 to 5% of their sales to this pursuit. They all speak the same language via the latest international standard on managing food safety, ISO 22000, and meet consumer needs by improving the safety of what we eat and drink from the farm to the fork.

For more information:

French Food Safety Authority www.afssa.fr
European Food Safety Authority www.efsa.eu.int/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_home.htm
Identification of animals, traceability & inspections on livestock farms www.civ-viande.org/uk/ebn.ebn?pid=57&rubrik=2&item=9&page=6
All about French animal husbandry, dairies and meats www.office-elevage.fr/doctech2/pagedoctech2/tabldoctech.htm