Monitoring radioactivity in food and actions of the Ministry in charge of food

French ministry of food, agriculture and fisheries (general directorate for food) is involved in all aspects of food safety and food controls As such, MAAP guarantees both the quality and safety of food products radioactivity controls in food participate to this global aim. Since 1987 and following the accident on Tchernobyl nuclear plant, regulations and monitoring-control programmes have been implemented by MAPP, mainly based on Cs 134 and 137 and Sr 90 researches in raw products such as game, milk and dairy products and honey A new monitoring and control programme has been implemented as from 2009, with the help of IRSN and thanks to the work on management during post-accidental phases initiated in 2005 by ASN. Mainly the activity of Cs is determined but also other parameters are measured such as Ca, K and l 131 activities in the samples analysed by IRSN. In 2009, 812 samples were programmed and all of them have proven to be conform. During the year 2010, 725 samples will be collected, Global exposure to radioactivity in France is estimated at 4000 μSv per year, food and water contributing to 6% (that is about 250 μSv) mainly due to K and Ca (natural radioactive components of the regime). (author)