Let mu((N)) denote a mean-field measure with potential F. Asymptotic indepe
ndence properties of the measure mu((N)) are investigated. In particular, w
ith H(.\mu) denoting relative entropy, if there exists a unique non-degener
ate minimum of H(.\mu)- F(.), then propagation of chaos holds for blocks of
size o(N). Certain degenerate situations are also studied. The results are
applied for the Langevin dynamics of a system of interacting particles lea
ding to a McKean-Vlasov limit. (C) Elsevier, Paris.