The mycotoxicology group was founded in 1999. Its goal is to meet scientific, economic and safety expectations in relation to the effects of mycotoxins on animal health and production quality.

Assessing the risk linked with the consumption of mycotoxins, is difficult due to the complexity of the mechanisms involved in fungal growth and toxinogenesis. The multitude of synthesised compounds (a large number of which are toxic to humans and animals) makes estimates even more difficult to give.

The research group proposes an original approach bringing together two areas in risk assessment :

• An epidemiological surveillance of accidents on farms.
• A research activity on the noxious effects of mycotoxins (cf. the "research" rubric of the website UPSP Mycotoxicology-).

The surveillance of mycotoxic accidents on farms aims at specifying the acute or sub-acute impact of mycotoxins in France. It is associated with advice and current scientific work meant to make information accessible to any person from the industry in question.

The group can provide technical support (fungal and mycotoxic analyses) in case of a suspect accident occurring on a farm. It can also produce remedial programmes in collaboration with different people from the industry, ranging from advice on the definition of production specifications to the control of their implementation in breeding conditions.

The group's role is not to offer analytic services. Samples sent to them for analysis without prior telephone contact will be returned to the sender.