Author: Jackie.McCabe

The website will be down for planned maintenance on Friday 22 May, 7am – to about 10 am. 

We’re delighted to see REHIS Fellow and Honorary Member, Bernard Forteath, recognised with the Eric Foskett Award at the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) Congress for his outstanding services to International Environmental Health.

A well-deserved honour celebrating his dedication and impact across the profession.

Bernard began his career in Environmental Health as a Student Environmental Health Officer in 1965. Once qualified, he worked his way through various positions to eventually Executive Director of Renfrewshire Council until his retirement in 2006. Bernard is a Chartered Environmental Health Officer and a Fellow and Honorary Member of REHIS.

Since joining the former Sanitary Inspectors’ Association of Scotland in 1965, Bernard has maintained a close interest in his professional association. He was President of the Scottish Institute of Environmental Health in 1980 and was a member of the team involved in setting up REHIS in 1982. For the first few years he was the Honorary Secretary and the Public Relations Officer of REHIS and was elected President in 1987, 2006 and in 2012. In 1986 he was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health.

On the international front, Bernard was one of the Institute’s three representatives of the International Federation of Environmental Health for many years. He was Secretary of the Eurocypria Group of the IFEH before it joined with the Nordic Group to form the IFEH Europe Group. Bernard became President of the IFEH in May 2008 and completed his term of office in September 2010. He was also Hon. Public Relations Officer of the Federation and Editor of their quarterly Newsletter until 2014. He was also President of the European Federation of Environmental Health in 2016/17.  Bernard is Honorary Vice President of the IFEH

Bernard is truly deserving of this prestigious award. Congratulations to Bernard.

The Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT), of which REHIS is a member, has welcomed the UK Government’s landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which received Royal Assent yesterday (Wednesday 29 April 2026) following its introduction on 5 November 2024 through a four-nations approach.

The new law will make it illegal, from 1 January 2027, to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. It also introduces a range of significant public health measures, including a ban on the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s and restrictions on the advertising and sponsorship of vapes and other recreational nicotine products.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland and Chair of SCOT, said: “With tobacco continuing to be the biggest preventable killer of people in Scotland, causing nearly 9,000 deaths each year, we are delighted that strong measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Act will become reality as they can be truly transformative and must be implemented without delay.

“Everyone should have the right to breathe clean air, and this is a significant step towards eradicating the damage being inflicted by profit-centred multi-national corporations on people’s lives, especially in our poorest communities, and tackling the advertising and promotions of addictive, heath harming recreational nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches.”

The Environmental Health profession have long advocated for stronger tobacco and nicotine controls as a key means of improving public health and reducing health inequalities. Through their work in regulation, enforcement and education, they play a vital role in protecting the public from the harms associated with tobacco use and emerging nicotine products. These new measures represent an important step forward in supporting healthier communities and preventing future generations from becoming addicted to tobacco and nicotine.

For more information read here: Scottish Coalition On Tobacco celebrates strong public health promoting measures becoming law – ASH Scotland

Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) current members:

ASH Scotland, Asthma and Lung UK, British Heart Foundation, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Royal College of Psychiatrists, British Medical Association, Royal College of Surgeons, Community Pharmacy Scotland, Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), CRUK, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), NCD Alliance Scotland, SANDS, Pancreatic Cancer Action, Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen), Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)

30.04.26

In this episode of The REHIS Spotlight Sessions, we’re joined by Lindsey-Anne McNeil, President of REHIS and Principal Officer for Private Sector Housing at Glasgow City Council.

Lindsey-Anne shares her journey into environmental health, her experiences working within local government, and the important role housing plays in protecting public health. We also explore her work leading initiatives to improve housing standards across Glasgow, as well as her perspective on the profession and its future.

This episode offers valuable insight for anyone considering a career in environmental health, particularly those interested in housing and community wellbeing.

To listen to the podcast click here: 🎧Lindsey Anne McNeil

Noise Action Week returns in 2026 with the backing of a powerful coalition of professional bodies, regulators and industry organisations, underlining the urgent need to treat noise as a public health priority.

Coordinated by the Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) at the Institution of Environmental Sciences (the IES), the campaign will run from 11–15 May, putting a national spotlight on the health impacts of noise and the practical action needed to reduce it.

Noise Action Week is supported by the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC), the Noise Abatement Society, the UK Noise Association, and the Noise App.

This broad coalition reflects growing cross-sector recognition that noise remains under-addressed, despite strong evidence linking it to serious health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia.

With one month to go, organisers are calling on local authorities, practitioners and businesses to support the campaign and help amplify its message. A programme of online events will run throughout the week, including a launch event on the health impacts of noise by internationally recognised expert Professor Charlotte Clark. A free communications toolkit and other resources are also available to drive engagement. Organisations and individuals can find out more, access resources and sign up for updates via the Noise Action Week webpage.

Chair of the ANC, Louise Beamish, said: “The World Health Organisation lists the impact of excessive noise on humans as increasing the risk for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment, tinnitus and cognitive impairment, as well as causing widespread annoyance.

The WHO also points to increasing evidence for other health impacts such as adverse birth outcomes and mental health problems, and there are also links between excessive noise exposure and dementia.

These are very serious, detrimental effects on society that ANC members work to address, and we welcome Noise Action Week as a means of raising the profile of the issues faced.”

John Stewart, Chair of the UK Noise Association, said: “The Government has got to get serious about tackling noise. It doesn’t just annoy millions of people but it is now recognised as a serious health issue.”

Gloria Elliott OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Noise Abatement Society, said: “Excessive noise is far more than a nuisance, it’s a serious and often overlooked public health issue. At the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), we see the real impact unwanted noise has on people’s everyday health and wellbeing. As a supporter of Noise Action Week, we are proud to work alongside our fellow sector partners to drive greater awareness, practical solutions, and a shared commitment to creating healthier sound environments for all.”

Ellie Savage, Campaign Coordinator at the IES, added: “The strong support we have already received shows the sector is ready to act. Noise Action Week 2026 puts the health impacts front and centre, showcasing practical solutions and best practice to ensure noise is taken seriously in policy, decision making and everyday life.”

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) has launched its Strategic Plan, which sets out our vision, aims, and priorities for the next three years.

The strategic plan is the result of engagement with Members and consultation with the Council. It sets out our key priorities which we aim to achieve over the coming three-year period.

We would like to thank all involved with the Institute: our Members, our elected Council, our Approved Training Centres, and our staff for contributing to the ongoing success of The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland.

REHIS launches Manifesto highlighting challenges facing Environmental Health

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) has launched its Manifesto, setting out four key challenges to be addressed to protect and improve Environmental Health and the communities it serves across Scotland.

REHIS stands ready to work with politicians from all parties and key stakeholders to strengthen public health now and for the future.

Public Health Scotland launched their new 10-year strategy, Together we can. The strategy sets a clear and ambitious direction for improving health and wellbeing across Scotland, driven by evidence, collaboration, and the voices of people and communities across the country.

Wood burning produces fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), which enters your bloodstream when inhaled and can cause heart and lung disease, as well as increasing your risk of diabetes and dementia.

If people in the UK only burned wood when no other heat source is available, we could avoid more than 1,500 deaths in the UK every year and save the NHS over £54 million in healthcare costs (that’s nearly 1.5 million GP appointments each year).

Even homes with newer “Ecodesign” wood burners are three times more polluted than those without, putting the health of you and your family at risk. And burning wood doesn’t just pollute your home – it pollutes your local community and harms the health of your neighbours.

We all want to stay warm this winter, but cosiness shouldn’t cost our health. This Clean Air Night (22 January 2026), share the facts about wood burning with your friends and family to protect everyone’s health.

Visit cleanairhub.org.uk to find out more and join the conversation on #CleanAirNight

Read the Ricardo report and watch the recording from the webinar in October to learn more about research quantifying the impacts of domestic burning on health.  

On behalf of everyone at REHIS, we wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.  We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you again in 2026. 

The REHIS office will close at 2pm on Wednesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. 

Postgraduate courses aim to boost recruitment of Environmental Health Officers across Scotland

Abertay University has unveiled three new postgraduate programmes in Environmental Health to address Scotland’s critical shortage of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) within local authorities.

Read the full article here Abertay University launches new environmental health programmes to strengthen Scotland’s public health workforce