Context
By decree 2006-1675 of 22 December 2006, certain expert missions from the High Council for Public Health in France were transferred to ANSES, in particular those relating to approvals for funerary materials. The General Code of Local Authorities (CGCT) specifies the area covered by these new powers:
- Art. R. 2213-15. – Funeral covers;
- Art. R. 2213-27. – Hermetic coffins and gas purifying devices.
Method of working
In order to carry out this mission, an initial multidisciplinary working group made up of independent scientific experts had been created with a view to developing reference documents on funerary materials.
Actions made
In this context, ANSES produced:
- a benchmark for the evaluation of funeral covers and bowls (July 2010). This repository meets the criteria mentioned in Articles R. 2213-15 of the General Code of Local Authorities (CGCT);
- a benchmark for evaluating hermetic coffins and gas purifying devices (November 2011). This repository meets the criteria mentioned in Article R. 2213-27 of the General Code of Local Authorities (CGCT).
ANSES has also published opinions relating to the application for placing coffins on the market. Since the publication of Decree No. 2018-966 of 8 November 2018 relating to coffins, ANSES is no longer in charge of such approval notices. Obtaining ministerial approval on the advice of ANSES now replaces the issue of a certificate of conformity issued by an accredited body.
In general, the Directorate General for Health (DGS) must be contacted for any information relating to the marketing of coffins, funeral covers and airtight coffins.
