Author: Sarah Groom

Only 5 weeks to go until our special 150 Anniversary Forum and Dinner

Spaces are still available to join this special milestone event on 25 September. Be part of the celebration, connect with experts, and explore the journey of Environmental Health over the past century and a half. Secure your place now. For more information and booking details, visit: REHIS 150th Anniversary Forum – REHIS

Health and Safety Update, 3 September 2025

This year’s annual Health and Safety Update is taking place on the morning of Wednesday 3 September on MS Teams. The programme and booking are available here: REHIS Health and Safety Update – REHIS

Northern Centre AGM

The Northern Centre is hosting their AGM and Training Day on Friday12 September via MS Teams. For more information: REHIS Northern Centre AGM & Training Day – REHIS

Southern Centre AGM

The Southern Centre is hosting a wider public health update event along with the centre AGM on Thursday 2 October 2025. The programme and booking form will be available soon.

Members are encouraged to attend their Centre AGMs and nominations for the Centre committee are very welcome.

Coming Soon – Free to Members Lunchtime CPD events

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is issuing a public health warning after counterfeit vodka was seized this week which confirmed the presence of the chemical isopropyl, which can be harmful if consumed.

The counterfeit vodka recovered was sold in 35cl bottles (commonly known as half bottles) and fraudulently labelled as Glen’s.

When opened, the counterfeit vodka may have a strange smell and taste differently to genuine vodka, and therefore should not be drunk.

When consumed, even small amounts of isopropyl can be dangerous. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, confusion, slow breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death. Counterfeit products with isopropyl alcohol will smell and taste very different to normal alcohol.

Every genuine bottle of Glen’s vodka has a laser etched lotcode applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle.

They will also have the following markings on the base of the bottle – the highlighted three identifiers will not vary (position or detail).

The scale of distribution of counterfeit product is still unknown so if you believe you may have consumed alcohol that has a strong smell and a very different taste to normal AND are showing any of the symptoms described, please contact the NHS 24 on 111 immediately. If you have severe symptoms, call 999.

If you believe you may have purchased this counterfeit vodka by detecting a strong smell or taste that is different from normal, do not drink it or dispose of it, but please contact FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit – foodcrime@fss.scot – for further advice. 

Alternatively please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 028 7926 or online, if you have any information on this counterfeit alcohol.

An FSA National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) operation investigating the distribution and sale of basmati rice in counterfeit packaging has resulted in the arrest of four people.

On Wednesday 23 July, the NFCU conducted an operation in Leicester with assistance from local authorities and Leicestershire Police. A 48-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation and conspiracy to defraud, and released under investigation. 

On Wednesday 30 July, NFCU officers, supported by local authorities, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police, visited multiple premises in London, leading to three arrests. A 56-year-old male and 51-year-old female from Croydon, along with a 48-year-old male from Epsom, were arrested on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation and conspiracy to defraud, and later released under investigation. 

A 52-year-old male from London also attended a police station for a voluntary interview. 

Large quantities of 10kg and 20kg bags of mixed rice in counterfeit premium brand basmati packaging were seized as part of the operation.  

Enquiries are ongoing. 

Neil Castle, Deputy Head of FSA’s NFCU said “The deliberate misrepresentation of legally imported bags of mixed rice as premium basmati products defrauds consumers and creates unfair competition for legitimate businesses. This operation demonstrates the NFCU’s commitment to protecting consumers from food crime and safeguarding our food supply chain.  

The arrests send a clear message that we will pursue those who seek to profit from deceiving consumers. Our teams will continue to work with partners to identify, investigate and disrupt these criminal networks, ensuring food is what it says it is. 

There is no health risk to the public, however if you have concerns about a product you have purchased, contact your local Trading Standards.”

Air pollution in Glasgow city centre has dropped by a third since enforcement of the Low Emission Zone – marking a major step forward in the city’s clean air ambitions.

New data for 2024 shows a 34% reduction in levels of nitrogen dioxide within the LEZ area compared to 2022 – the last full year before scheme enforcement. Diffusion tube monitoring has also shown a 21% drop of the harmful pollutant at locations outside the zone.

This clean air breakthrough is detailed in Glasgow’s most recent Air Quality Annual Progress Report — the first to reflect a full calendar year of data since the city centre Low Emission Zone was extended to all vehicle types in June 2023.

Annual monitoring from 2024 has also shown that for the first time, Glasgow recorded full compliance with all statutory air quality objectives following their introduction thirty years ago.

These latest results highlight the effectiveness of Glasgow’s LEZ in improving air quality citywide, representing a significant step forward in the city’s commitment to reducing pollution and safeguarding public health.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide at all automatic monitoring stations were below the objective levels, continuing the trend of compliance for the third consecutive year. While Hope Street – known for recording the highest nitrogen dioxide levels in Scotland – is now reporting concentrations nearly 10% below the statutory objective, illustrating the transformative impact of Glasgow’s clean air measures.

City centre diffusion tubes, which in 2023 recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide above the objective on Gordon Street and under the Hielanman’s Umbrella are now in full compliance – with the highest recorded level more than 25% below the objective.

And building on several years of consistent compliance, the annual objectives for PM10 and PM2.5 – the ultra-fine particles known to pose serious health risks, were successfully met at all monitoring locations.

Cllr Angus Millar, Convener for Transport, Climate and City Centre Recovery said: “These new figures clearly show that Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone is successfully tackling city centre air pollution. A one-third drop in levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide since the LEZ’s introduction means cleaner air for everyone.

“Air pollution contributes to hundreds of deaths in Glasgow every year and damages the health of thousands more. The LEZ was introduced to tackle the stubbornly high pollution levels causing that. Now, for the first time, Glasgow is meeting the legal limits on air pollution at all recorded locations.

“These significant improvements to city centre air quality come at a crucial time, as footfall continues to rise and key streets are transformed through the Avenues programme. Cleaner air not only reduces health risks but helps create a more pleasant environment for everyone.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m very pleased that Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone is significantly improving local air quality. What we’re seeing through these findings is a clear and direct link between the LEZ and air quality benefits. Glasgow was the first LEZ in Scotland to start enforcement and the first to deliver these benefits. We can expect to see similar reductions across Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh in time.

“We know that air pollution disproportionately impacts the youngest, the oldest and those with pre-existing medical conditions. As such, the LEZ is working effectively to protect public health in Glasgow and reduce health inequalities.

“At the same time – it’s really encouraging that the revenue raised from the LEZ has been reinvested to support local community projects that work to protect the climate and further improve air quality across the city.”

Glasgow has previously declared four Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) due to levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter exceeding the legal objectives.

Three of these AQMAs have since been revoked, reflecting ongoing improvements in air quality. However, the AQMA for the city centre, established in 2002, remains in place.

Whilst the LEZ is driving significant improvements in the city centre’s air quality, revocation of an AQMA can only happen where there is compliance with the objectives for at least three consecutive years, and where further exceedances of the objectives are unlikely to occur.

If current progress continues, the city centre AQMA will be eligible for revocation ahead of the 2029 target set in Glasgow’s 2024 Air Quality Action Plan.

The UK Government have announced new guidelines for commercial baby food to reduce salt and sugar, along with clearer labelling to help parents make informed decisions.    

Baby food manufacturers will be given 18 months to reduce sugar and salt levels in baby foods aimed at children up to 36 months old.    

This will need to be achieved without the use of sweeteners as these are not permitted for use in commercial baby food.

Clearer labelling guidelines are also set to be introduced to help parents more easily understand what food they are buying for their children.

Obesity costs the NHS £11.4 billion a year and is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and obesity rates have doubled since the 1990s – including among children.

High sugar intake in children’s diets is a significant factor contributing to high rates of childhood obesity in the UK, which is among the highest in Western Europe.

The hope is that these new voluntary guidelines will support parents in making easier and healthy choices – and without having to change the products they buy.

The guidelines will also tackle misleading labelling that often conflicts with official feeding advice. For example, some products labelled as snacks for babies from seven months onwards directly contradict government’s recommendations that children 6-12 months do not need snacks between meals, only milk.

Manufacturers will also be told to stop using misleading marketing claims that make products appear healthier than they are; for example, products with labels such as “contains no nasties” -when products may be high in sugar.

The government has also joined forces with fitness coach Joe Wicks to help get children active over the summer through the launch of a new animated series, ‘Activate’, available on YouTube.

From January 2026, adverts for less-healthy products will be banned from being shown on TV before 9pm or at any time online, reducing children’s excessive exposure to many foods high in fat, sugar or salt. The government has also granted more powers to local authorities to ban fast food shops from setting up outside of schools.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a public consultation on the renewal of anticoagulant rodenticide products under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR).

The consultation, which runs until 30 September 2025, will assess whether there are suitable and sufficient alternatives to anticoagulant rodenticides such as difethialone, difenacoum, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, flocoumafen and coumatetralyl.

These products are essential tools for controlling rats and mice in and around buildings, as well as in sewers.

However, because anticoagulants meet exclusion criteria under GB BPR, their continued use requires careful justification.

HSE’s comparative assessment will look at:

• Whether alternatives to anticoagulant rodenticides have lower risks for human health, animal health and the environment
• Whether alternatives are sufficiently effective
• Whether alternatives present economic or practical disadvantages
• Whether the range of available active substances is wide enough to minimise resistance in rats and mice.

To inform this work, HSE is asking for evidence and data from those working in rodent control, public health, animal health, wildlife protection, food production and storage, and critical national infrastructure.

If HSE concludes that alternatives are suitable and sufficient, the authorisation of anticoagulant rodenticides could be restricted or even refused.

For pest management professionals, this could significantly impact the range of tools available to manage rodents and protect public health.

A consultation paper has been circulated for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to assume responsibility for management of the local authority air quality monitoring network.

The Scottish Government believes that SEPA is best placed to take on the management of the local authority air quality monitoring network given its existing reserve powers under the Environment Act 1995. This would allow for maintenance and operation of the local authority air quality monitoring network as a whole to be centrally managed in a single contract. 

The Scottish Government believes that bringing the responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the local authority air quality monitoring sites together would result in efficiencies and financial savings, as well as lessening resource burdens on individual local authorities. This would also allow a greater level of standardisation to be achieved across the monitoring network. 

Under section 82 of the Environment Act 1995 (the 1995 Act), local authorities are required to regularly review air quality in their areas, and make an assessment of air quality against air quality standards and objectives for several air pollutants of concern for human health.  If the assessment shows that any standards or objectives are not being met, or are predicted not to be met by the required dates, the authority concerned must identify any parts of its area where standards or objectives are not likely to be achieved,  and designate any area where standards or objectives are not being achieved or are not likely to achieved as an Air Quality Management Area and produce an action plan setting out how it intends to work towards achieving those air quality standards and objectives.   

The Scottish air quality monitoring network includes (at the time of writing) 99 high precision fixed location automatic monitoring stations  producing data for a range of pollutants in near real time, 78 of which are operated by local authorities (the remainder being operated by central government as part of the UK Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN)), and 1,051 (2024 total) lower precision mobile nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes, all of which are operated by local authorities, both with comprehensive geographical coverage across the country.   

Each local authority is responsible for the maintenance and operation of its air quality monitors. Since 1997, grants have been provided by the Scottish Government to individual local authorities to assist them in undertaking their statutory air quality duties, with a particular focus on the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of each authority’s air quality monitoring network, which have expanded significantly over that period.  

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland’s environmental regulator, and has reserve powers under section 85 of the 1995 Act in relation to local authority air quality management. These powers allow SEPA to conduct its own reviews and assessments of whether air quality standards and objectives are being achieved or are likely to be achieved. In order to exercise these powers, SEPA requires data from the local authority air quality monitoring networks.  

The Scottish Government have published their Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Strategy 2027-32 for public consultation

The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Research programme is a multidisciplinary portfolio of research. It is structured in five-year cycles to enable long term strategic research and provide clarity on research priorities and programme structure. 

This is a draft version of the 2027-32 ENRA Research Strategy for public consultation. 

The programme covers a broad range of issues critical to Scotland’s environmental and agricultural futures including:

• Regenerative and sustainable agriculture
• Optimising Scotland’s land-use for multiple objectives
• Protecting soils (including peatland)
• Plant and animal health
• Sustainable food systems
• Circular economy
• Reforming Scotland’s land system
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in ENRA
• Nature loss and biodiversity

The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding. Your views are crucial to informing the development of the final 2027-32 ENRA Research Strategy.

Read the consultation paper. The consultation period ends on 24 October.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are looking for feedback on their draft strategy for 2026-31 from the public, local authorities and those working across the food system in Scotland.

The draft strategy sets out FSS priorities for delivering our vision for a safe, authentic and healthier food environment that Scotland can trust.

FSS welcome your feedback to help us finalise the strategy that will be published in 2026.

The consultation period will end on 14th September.

New figures from National Records of Scotland show the time people in Scotland can expect to live in good health, without serious illness or disability, has fallen to a near ten-year low.

The latest figures show that in 2021-2023 females could expect to enjoy 60 years of good health and males 59.6 on average at birth.

The report also states there is a gap in healthy life expectancy at birth between different council areas. People in North Ayrshire experience the lowest healthy life expectancy at 52.6 years for men and 52.5 years for women, which is around 13 and 14 years shorter for men and women respectively compared to Perth and Kinross, one of the areas with the highest healthy life expectancy.

The reasons why people are living less years in good health are complex. Health is not only shaped by the health services we receive and our behaviours, but also by our physical and social environment.

Within Scotland, there is a renewed focus on maintaining good health and reducing inequalities by preventing health conditions from developing in the first place.

The recently published Population Health Framework outlines a long-term strategy centred on improving Scotland’s health, creating a Scotland where we live longer, healthier lives by preventing illness.

It prioritises addressing overweight and obesity as an early action. This includes developing legislation to improve the food environment and making it easier and more affordable to access healthy foods.

The benefits of healthy eating, active living and maintenance of a healthy weight are widely recognised and directly associated with a wide range of health benefits.

Currently, two-thirds of adults in Scotland carry excess weight, which is a significant contributor to poor health. A key driver of this is not simply individual choices, but instead environments where healthy options are often less accessible and more expensive than less healthy options.

Reflecting on the figures, Dr Rishma Maini, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, said:

“The recent statistics on healthy life expectancy for Scotland are deeply concerning, as it means that more people are likely to spend more years living with chronic illness, disability or being dependent on others. All this impacts greatly on the individual and the systems that support them.

“We are confident that we can tackle the root causes of ill health and build a Scotland where everyone has the opportunity to thrive by supporting the actions set out in the Population Health Framework. We all have a role to play, be it local or national government, third sector, or businesses.

“An important step we can take together is to create an environment where healthy food is available and affordable – wherever we live, work, study and socialise. By taking coordinated action to improve the health of everyone in Scotland, we can help people live longer lives in good health.”

Don’t Miss Out! Celebrate 150 Years of Environmental Health in Scotland with Us!

Spaces are still available to join this special milestone event. Be part of the celebration, connect with experts, and explore the journey of Environmental Health over the past century and a half. Secure your place now! For more information and booking details, visit: REHIS 150th Anniversary Forum – REHIS

Routes into the Environmental Health Profession

We are now in the final stages of completing the accreditation process for the MSc in Environmental Health at Abertay University. We anticipate that accreditation will be confirmed by the end of August 2025. Once approved, the programme will be listed on the Abertay University website and open for applications, with the first student intake planned for January 2026.

Discussions are ongoing with the University of the West of Scotland regarding potential options for an undergraduate programme. We have also approached all academic institutions in Scotland; however, due to current financial constraints, no universities are in a position to introduce new programmes at this time. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to pursuing opportunities wherever possible.

REHIS continues to offer both the EHO Alternative Route and the Food Safety Officer pathway, both of which are successfully producing qualified officers.

Plans are well underway for the next diet of professional interviews, which will be at the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline starting on 30 September 2025 where there are 19 candidates expected to sit the REHIS Diploma or SFSORB exams.

Health and Safety Update, 3 September 2025

Join us for this year’s Annual Health and Safety Update on the morning of Wednesday, 3 September, hosted live on MS Teams. Don’t miss an exciting lineup of expert speakers ready to share the latest insights and updates in health and safety. Secure your place now, for booking information, please see REHIS Health and Safety Update – REHIS

Community Training Update

The Institute is pleased to announce that the REHIS Elementary Nutrition course has been credit rated on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) at SCQF Level 5 and awarded 1 credit. Additionally, the REHIS First Aid at Work course has been credit-rated at SCQF Level 6 and awarded 3 credits.

The new REHIS Mental Health First Aid course is in the final stages of development, with three pilot courses already delivered and a final pilot scheduled for August. Following evaluation of the feedback, the course will be launched for REHIS approved training centres to add to their portfolio.

Northern and Southern Centres

The Institute’s two Membership Centres – Northern and Southern – will soon be holding their Annual General Meetings. Both Centres are seeking enthusiastic and committed members to join their committees. This is a great opportunity to get involved and have your voice heard. If you’d like to find out more, please contact the Institute’s office at contact@rehis.com and we will connect you with the relevant Centre Chair.

Environmental Health Scotland – the Journal

The Summer edition of Environmental Health Scotland is now available in the members section of the website.

Households are being warned about the dangers of wood-burning stoves, including modern eco-design models, as a new study by the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) has found that the use of woodstoves results in short-term exposures to high concentrations of toxic pollutants, posing potential health risks to residents. 

In the study, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, researchers monitored a number of homes in Guildford, Surrey, that used a range of heating stoves and clean solid fuels, including seasoned wood, kiln-dried wood, wood briquette, and smokeless coal. After measuring pollutant levels, such as ultrafine particles (UFPs), fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO), GCARE found open fireplaces produced the highest emissions, increasing PM_2.5 exposure up to seven times compared to modern stoves.  

Multifuel eco-design stoves followed, emitting more UFP emissions than standard eco-design (top-rated for low emissions under a UK certification scheme). Wood briquettes and smokeless coal increased ultrafine particle exposure by 1.7- and 1.5-times, respectively, compared to seasoned wood, challenging assumptions that these manufactured fuels are cleaner alternatives. 

While improved stoves reduced pollutant emission overall, even the best models caused significant spikes in indoor pollution during lighting, refuelling, and ash removal. In many cases, pollutant levels exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) good practice statement for 24-h averaged values of 10,000 particles per cubic centimetre on ultrafine particle source emission control. 

The research team also found that ventilation played a critical role in indoor pollution. Homes with closed windows during burning had up to three times higher pollution levels than those with periodic window opening. Smaller room size and longer burning durations also worsened indoor air quality, highlighting how everyday factors influence exposure. 

Short and long-term exposure to pollution from wood-burning sources has been linked to a wide range of health effects, including chronic respiratory conditions, heart disease, lung cancer, and even damage to the kidneys, liver, brain, and nervous system.  

The research, funded in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and supported by the University of Surrey’s Breaking Barrier Studentship Award, highlights the need for stricter regulation and more public awareness of indoor air pollution linked to wood burning for domestic heating.