Gene-edited food now legal to be sold in England
- 23 March 2023
Gene-edited food can now be developed commercially in England following a change in the law. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed into law on 23 March 2023. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act covers precision-bred plants and animals developed through techniques such as gene editing. This is different to genetic modification (GM), which produces crops containing […]
Highland hotel guest died after being trapped by bench
- 22 March 2023
A guest at a Highland hotel died after a heavy metal bench he was sitting on toppled backwards and trapped him against a wall, a court has heard. Patrick McGuire, 67, from Wisconsin in the US, was knocked unconscious at the Glengarry Castle Hotel, near Invergarry, in April 2019. Inverness Sheriff Court heard the cause […]
ASH Scotland concerned about latest findings suggesting huge increase in teenage vaping
- 22 March 2023
ASH Scotland is deeply concerned at latest figures suggesting that regular e-cigarette use by 15-year-olds has tripled and more than doubled for 13-year-olds in the last five years. The Scottish Government’s Health and Wellbeing Census 2021-22 found that 10.1% of S4 students and 4.3% of S2 students report using e-cigarettes regularly (once a week or […]
Company director and employee sentenced for fly tipping
- 22 March 2023
The director of a ‘Man with a Van’ business and his employee have been sentenced for dumping household waste in Glasgow. 53-year-old Stuart Allison, from Bearsden, was fined £750 and ordered to pay compensation of £1,900 to Glasgow City Council for the clean-up. His employee Steven Hutton, aged 44, from Coatbridge was fined £750. Both […]
Health inequalities statistics released
- 21 March 2023
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today announced the publication of the latest Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities report. The report includes a range of indicators selected in order to monitor health inequalities over time. These indicators include: healthy life expectancy, premature mortality, all-cause mortality, baby birthweight and a range of morbidity and mortality indicators relating to alcohol, […]
MUP reduces deaths and hospital admissions
- 21 March 2023
Public Health Scotland (PHS) and The Lancet have published new evidence showing the impact of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) on deaths and hospital admissions attributable to alcohol consumption. The study estimated a 13.4% reduction in deaths, and a 4.1% reduction in hospital admissions, wholly attributable to alcohol consumption following the implementation of MUP. The […]
Drinks producers urged to register for deposit return scheme
- 20 March 2023
Drinks producers are being encouraged to register for Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will go live on 16 August 2023. Drinks producers are asked to register with the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland, in order to participate in the recycling scheme and to help ensure that they meet their regulatory requirements. Circularity Scotland confirmed that by […]
Clothing worse for climate than plastic, Zero Waste Scotland report shows
- 20 March 2023
New report from Zero Waste Scotland shows that clothing is contributing more to climate change than plastic. Clothing is the most environmentally-damaging type of household waste, accounting for nearly a third (32%) of the carbon impacts of Scotland’s household waste despite making up only a small proportion, by weight (4%) of the waste we bin. That’s […]
Repairing standard: statutory guidance for landlords published
- 19 March 2023
Guidance setting out private rented sector landlords’ responsibilities for ensuring their property meets updated standards has been published (Repairing Standard – Statutory Guidance for Private Landlords The Repairing Standard, contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, covers the legal and contractual obligations of private landlords to ensure that their property meets a minimum physical standard. The […]
February News
- 9 March 2023
Welcome to our February News. The Institute is celebrating 40 years! On 16 February 1983, The Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland and The Scottish Institute of Environmental Health amalgamated to form The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. As part of the celebrations, our President Evonne Bauer will feature this important milestone at the Annual […]
Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) Spring Clean 2023
- 24 February 2023
Keep Scotland Beautiful’s (KSB) Spring Clean will take place this year from 17 March until 17 April. The Environmental charity is urging the public to play their part in tackling Scotland’s litter emergency. Last year’s Spring Clean saw thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves and organise more than 100 events. Get involved by: Find […]
Public Health Scotland publishes first report on foodborne illness
- 23 February 2023
Public Health Scotland (PHS)have published their Gastrointestinal and Zoonoses Biennial Report for 2020/2021. The release provides provisional information on laboratory reports of Gastrointestinal and Zoonotic (GIZ) pathogens in Scotland up to the end of 2021. It is the first such report published by Public Health Scotland since it was established in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In […]
