Author: Sarah Groom

REHIS launches Manifesto highlighting challenges facing Environmental Health

The Institute has launched its Manifesto, setting out four key challenges to protect and improve Environmental Health and the communities we serve across Scotland. 

We’re keen to work with politicians from all parties and key stakeholders to strengthen public health now and for the future. We ask our members to please consider sharing the Manifesto with your local MSP to help spread the word and support this important work.

REHIS Launches Manifesto – REHIS 

REHIS visit to Westminster 

Our President, Lindsey-Anne McNeil, and Past President, Lynn Crothers, recently attended an event at the Houses of Parliament, alongside the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), to mark the 150th anniversary of the Public Health Act. During the visit, they engaged with MPs and partner organisations to raise awareness of Environmental Health. 

Seamus Logan, MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, was particularly interested in learning more about the vital role the Environmental Health profession plays in creating safer, healthier places for everyone. They also took the opportunity to share the Institute’s Manifesto, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration to address the public health challenges of today and tomorrow. 

REHIS attended the IFST Student Launchpad at Abertay University 

REHIS was pleased to be invited to attend the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) Student Launchpad at Abertay University this month, where we engaged with students about careers as an Environmental Health Officer and Food Safety Officer. We were especially pleased to promote the newly accredited MSc programmes in Environmental Health at Abertay. 

REHIS update to SAFER questionnaire 

You may recall that last month we advised that the Institute had written to the Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) regarding concerns raised by members about SAFER. 

I can now provide an update: while there has been no change in FSS’s decision not to include REHIS on the SAFER Board, we are arranging a meeting with the FSS Board Chair. This will give us the opportunity to share our concerns directly and to hear first-hand about the plans for SAFER. 

Diary Dates – Professional Update Courses and Forum 

The Institute is busy preparing the professional update courses for the year, the details of which will all appear on the website, Events – REHIS

Dates for your diary so far include: 

• Food Update – 3 June 2026 
• Health & Safety Update – 2 September 2026 
• Pollution Update –7 October 2026 
• REHIS Environmental Health Update (followed by AGM) – 20 November 2026 
• Public Health and Housing Update – 2 December 2026 

The Institute’s Annual Forum will be held in person, on Friday 21 August 2026 in Glasgow. 

March Lunchtime Seminar 

Join us for our next Lunchtime Session, on Wednesday 11th March 2026. David Anderson is presenting on HMO Housing and case studies from Glasgow.

The UK Government are seeking views on proposals to extend smoke-free laws to certain outdoor public places and introduce heated tobacco-free and vape-free restrictions.

Parliament is currently considering the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill will give the government new powers to make regulations on tobacco and vapes.

The UK Government plan to use these powers as soon as reasonably practicable after the bill becomes law.

They are seeking views on proposals to:

• extend smoke-free laws to certain outdoor public places, including children’s playgrounds and outside a number of health and social care and education settings
• introduce heated tobacco-free places
• introduce vape-free places
• introduce exemptions including allowing for designated smoking, heated tobacco and vaping areas within smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places
• define boundaries and set signage requirements for smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places

These proposals aim to protect children and medically vulnerable people from secondhand smoke, heated tobacco emissions and vape vapours.

This consultation applies to England only. The devolved governments will run separate consultations.

A consultation stage impact assessment is published alongside this consultation.

Smoke-free, heated tobacco-free and vape-free places in England – GOV.UK – The consultation closes on 8th May.

A food company that produces pork scratchings has been fined after a Salmonella outbreak was linked to their products.

Tayto Group Limited, one of the largest crisp and snack manufacturers in the UK, produce “Mr Porky” pork scratchings at their site on Wingates Industrial Estate in Westhoughton.

They were fined £153,000 at a Bolton Crown Court hearing on Thursday January 22. 

The company also had to pay a £190 victim surcharge and £309,136.09 costs.

More than 500 Salmonella cases were linked to the contaminated product with people falling ill between 2021 and 2023.    

Tayto accepted that before remedial works took place the food safety system and procedures at the Westhoughton site fell short of the standard required, particularly as the use of pressure washers and the drain beneath the factory that flowed from the raw area to the cooked area, gave rise to a risk of contamination of the final product.

Bolton Council’s environmental health team first became aware of the outbreak in July 2021 when they were contacted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). 

Tayto Group Limited immediately closed the factory to carry out a deep clean and several remedial works. They also undertook a widespread recall of all products manufactured at the plant with best before dates up to February 2022. 

The factory subsequently re-opened with agreement from environmental health officers in September 2021 after further extensive sampling showed the product was safe to consume. Sampling and monitoring visits were undertaken over several months to ensure that improved standards were being maintained, and the product was safe.         

Lynn Donkin, Director of Public Health at Bolton Council said:

“Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can cause food poisoning. Foods such as eggs, chicken, pork and dairy produce can carry salmonella.

“It’s important that anyone preparing food should make sure that they wash their hands and clean equipment thoroughly to prevent the spread of salmonella.”

Cllr Richard Silvester, Bolton Council Executive Cabinet Member for Regulatory and Environmental Services, said:

“It’s important food manufacturers and anyone in the food industry is stringent against organisms like salmonella.

“Anyone who compromises food safety and hygiene processes needs to be held to account.   

“This was a long and complex investigation by environmental health officers from Bolton Council, and I thank them for their hard work in protecting public health and ensuring this company was held to account.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating more than 35 reports of illness connected to recent infant formula recalls.

UKHSA and other agencies have received 36 clinical notifications where children who have consumed recalled batches have symptoms consistent with cereulide toxin poisoning.

Multi-country recalls of formula products from Nestlé, Lactalis, Danone and others are ongoing following the detection of cereulide – a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. Cereulide was found in arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, a raw material from a Chinese supplier. In Scotland, there is an estimated 47,000 units of product affected by the recall. 

England has the most illness reports with 24, seven are in Scotland, three are in Wales and one is in Northern Ireland. There is also one report from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. Seventeen children are male and 16 are female. This information is unknown in three cases.

The issue was debated in the House of Lords earlier this month. Gillian Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, said it is a live incident, so the focus is on managing the situation. She said there will be the opportunity to look into the potential of any systemic issues in the future.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating the source of contamination. Healthcare professionals are advised to do a clinical assessment and stool culture for toxigenic Bacillus cereus in infants coming to hospitals with compatible symptoms, along with testing recalled formula for cereulide toxin. Direct cereulide toxin testing without culture in clinical samples is not available in the UK.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has received reports of diarrhea in infants following consumption of recalled products but no cases have been severe. One infant who had formula from a recalled batch tested positive for the toxin and developed vomiting and diarrhea but has now recovered.

ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are working on an outbreak assessment linked to the incident, which should be published later this month.

In a parliamentary question in the European Parliament, Biljana Borzan, a Croatian politician, asked when the EU Commission was first informed of suspected health risks.

Borzan asked about measures the EU Commission has taken to ensure accountability along the infant formula supply chain, and if there will be a review of food safety rules applicable to infant nutrition. 

Singapore has reported three cases with mild symptoms associated with cereulide exposure. Two confirmed illnesses were recorded in a Brazilian state.

In Hong Kong, 10 samples tested positive for cereulide ranging from 0.2 to 8.6 micrograms per kilogram of food. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has received 48 complaints and enquiries related to infant formula products.

Nestlé Hong Kong has stopped the sales of more than 20 batches. According to the company, about 159,000 cans of products have been recalled.

Scotland’s food and drink sector is the largest manufacturing industry in the country, yet the sheer variety of career paths it offers can often remain a mystery to those still in the classroom.

To bridge this gap, the Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) Partnership’s Skills Advisory Group has launched an innovative new resource designed to catch the eye of the next generation of talent and to help career influencers, like teachers, understand the opportunities offered across the food supply chain.

A new A2 poster campaign – “Who makes a can of soup?” – is currently being distributed to all 360 publicly funded secondary schools across Scotland. This visual guide illustrates the complex “farm to spoon” journey of a humble tin of soup, highlighting the diverse array of professionals and skills required to bring a product to life.

Connecting Industry and Education

The project is a collaborative effort delivered through the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership alongside Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland.

It also enlisted the help of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)regional groups, leveraging its network of school coordinators. They have made sure the posters are being placed for the most impact: in teaching staff rooms, career hubs and classrooms ranging from home economics and business studies to the science labs.

The campaign serves a dual purpose. For pupils, it demystifies the industry by showcasing roles they may never have considered, from agronomists and new product development technologists to packaging designers and logistics specialists.

For educators and careers advisors, the poster features a prominent QR code that links directly to the food education portal at foodeducationscotland.scot.

This portal is a comprehensive hub for teaching resources that use food as a context for learning by linking the school curriculum to real-world applications in STEM, sustainability and business.

The campaign is also aligned with the “Find a Future in Food” toolkit, which was launched last year, and provides snappy statistics, inspirational personal stories and dynamic video content to further engage potential recruits.

A Strategic Vision for Skills

The Skills Advisory Group exists to examine and optimise the talent pool within the Scottish food and drink sector. This campaign marks a transitional piece of work as the industry refreshes its Skills Action Plan, which will coordinate the activities of sector associations over the coming years to address the ongoing need for fresh talent.

Moira Stalker, Skills Manager at the Food & Drink Federation Scotland, emphasised the importance of this collaboration:

“The food and drink sector is one of Scotland’s most vibrant industries, yet pupils and teachers often do not realise the sheer variety of roles available. This eye-catching A2 poster is a real-world resource that will point both pupils and career influencers to the wealth of digital assets that can inform and inspire them.

“The ultimate goal is to get teachers and career influencers to a single, clear destination to help them convey relevant and up-to-date information about working in food & drink.

We are grateful for the support of our partners and of the DYW groups across the country in reaching the right people.”

Download your copy of the poster here.

On 17 December the Scottish Government published its First National Good Food Nation Plan, as required under the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. The Plan brings together a national vision, six overarching Outcomes, a new monitoring framework and the full set of policies Ministers intend to pursue. Together, these elements are designed to make food policy across government more coherent, joined up and focused on long-term change. Local authorities and health boards will have to produce similar plans for their own jurisdictions once relevant legislation has been introduced.
 
The Plan reiterates the duty upon Ministers to have regard to it when exercising functions specified in secondary legislation. The relevant instrument for this duty was introduced to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in December 2025 but was voted down due to concerns around the omission of sectors such as agriculture. The Scottish Government has highlighted that legislation already exists which creates a statutory duty to have regard to the sectors omitted from this instrument. Consequently, objections raised by some organisations have since been withdrawn. Relevant secondary legislation is now expected to be reintroduced early in the next parliament after this year’s election.
 
The Scottish Food Commission – a new executive non-departmental public body – has been established to provide oversight over provisions made in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. An event to mark the launch of the Commission will be held in Edinburgh on 19 March – more information and ticket registration can be found here. The Commission’s main functions will include scrutinising and making recommendations in relation to the Good Food Nation Plans and progress reports; conducting research; and providing advice to Scottish Ministers, Local Authorities and Health Boards in relation to their good food nation plans.

On Monday 9 February, Glasgow Council rolled out complementary ZoneCards for 500 people taking part in a seven week trial scheme. Participants were selected through community and support organisations, and based on the likelihood they would face obstacles, including being unable to afford tickets, without assistance.

irst Bus, Stagecoach, the Subway, and ScotRail routes throughout the city area are all covered until 29th March. 

Users will now be able to travel around the city without paying, in exchange for helping the local authority collect data on passenger behaviour and the potential impact of toll-free transport on employment, education and public health. 

Glasgow’s Green Party, which was responsible for tabling the project, has welcomed the decision to press on with the trial, describing the offer as a ‘gamechanger’. The group has already pushed the message that encouraging more people to ride public transport is beneficial to vulnerable and low income residents, and the environment. 

Cities across the world are either considering or have implemented similar systems. Hasselt, Belgium, abolished tickets in 1997 and saw a 13-fold increase in ridership by 2006. Estonia’s capital Tallinn introduced its own policy in 2013 following a public vote. Last year Belgrade, Serbia, followed suit, offering 1.38 million citizens complimentary travel, while in the US, Washington is now home to 14 rural transit networks that do not charge for tickets, and Luxembourg no longer has fares within its national borders

Hundreds of illegal dumps are operating across England, including at least 11 so-called “super sites” containing tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish, a BBC investigation has found.

More than 700 illegal tips were shut down in 2024/25, but data released by the Environment Agency has revealed some 517 dumps were still active at the end of last year.

Among the largest sites that have yet to be cleared up are a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire and Cornwall, a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent and a 20,000-tonne dump in Oxfordshire. Most sites are in countryside locations, often hidden, and on what should be agricultural land.

Police say many are run by organised crime gangs, who are making cash by charging much less than legitimate operators to take and bury waste.

Businesses have to pay site fees to use legitimate licensed landfill sites, depending on the amount and type of waste they are trying to get rid of, and landfill tax is also charged at just over £126 per tonne.

Emma Viner, the Environment Agency’s enforcement and investigations manager, added: “We share the public’s disgust for the things that are happening and for the waste crime that we’re seeing and we are taking action.

“Every year, we’re shutting down hundreds of illegal waste sites.

“But it’s a dynamic picture. For all the waste sites that we’re closing, we’re seeing more and more pop up around the country.”

Ed Lennox, Director of Operations, Clean Up Britain, said that it was “incredibly easy” to stop these ‘supersites’.

He said: “The legislative landscape in this country is designed to encourage environmental crime. If you go back 50 years, there were something like 6,000 recognised locations across the UK where you could take rubbish.

“Fast-forward to the 2020s and the number has dropped to less than 1,500. In that time, the population’s risen, consumption has gone up and we have more packaging.

“If you don’t make it easy and convenient to do the right thing, people will do the wrong thing.”

“People want somewhere local and convenient to dump their rubbish. If you don’t make it easy and convenient to do the right thing, people will do the wrong thing. Similarly, if you’re going to impose fines, make them fit the crime. In Buckinghamshire last summer, someone dumped 150 lorry tyres in a watercourse and was fined just £1,500.

“It’s the perfect recipe for a complete disaster, which is what we’ve got.”

An NFU spokesperson was also critical: “Industrial-scale fly-tipping is blighting rural areas and costing farmers precious time and money to clear up. 

“Many of these ‘super sites’ are on agricultural land and see huge amounts of waste, often hazardous, being dumped regularly. Not only are farmers being prevented from growing crops and grazing livestock but are also having to pay thousands of pounds to clear away the rubbish. 

“We need far better collaboration between police, local authorities, landowners and the criminal justice system to ensure effective deterrents are in place. A single reporting system would also make a real difference, reducing the burden on victims.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “We are working across government to wipe out illegal waste throughout the country and make those responsible pay. 

“We are directly supporting the Environment Agency, giving them more officers and 50% more funding to boost waste crime enforcement, and handing out tougher sentences for those who break the law.”

Other government plans include the introduction of digital-waste tracking; reforms to waste permit exemptions; and helping councils to crush fly-tippers’ vans and deploy drones and mobile CCTV cameras to identify vehicles. 

Ahead of the 20^th anniversary of Scotland’s smoke-free legislation coming into force on 26 March 2026, Scots who quit smoking at the time are being encouraged by ASH Scotland to share their stories.

The campaigning health charity is urging people who stopped using tobacco to share their experiences about why the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces helped to motivate their quit smoking attempts and how becoming tobacco-free has benefited their life.

Scots who have quit smoking more recently are also invited to tell the charity ahead of No Smoking Day on 11 March what influenced them to stop and if they succeeded through personal determination or with the free expert support available from NHS Scotland’s Quit Your Way services.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With two big celebrations coming up in March in the shape of No Smoking Day and then the 20^th anniversary of Scotland’s leading smoke-free law, we would love to hear from people across the country about how living tobacco-free has boosted their health and personal finances.

“We are looking forward to hearing everyone’s success stories which could inspire others to try giving up smoking for the first time or to try again when they discover the methods and support that worked 20 years ago or in more recent years.”

The charity is asking people to share stories up to a maximum of 200 words by emailing: comms@ashscotland.org.uk or via www.ashscotland.org.uk/share-your-story

The sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic in Scotland will be banned from 11 August 2027 under regulations published.

Wet wipes containing plastic are a common and persistent source of marine litter and can break down into microplastics over time, harming the natural environment.

The move is part of wider action to protect Scotland’s environment and marine waters and includes a transition period for businesses to help them prepare.

The measures will include exemptions for medical and industrial uses as well as business-to-business sales. Members of the public who require specific wet wipes containing plastic for medical or healthcare reasons will also be able to request these from a pharmacy.

A ban will be introduced in all four nations of the UK following a UK-wide consultation in 2023, which found overwhelming public support for the proposals, with over 93% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing to the move.

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Wet wipes containing plastic are an unnecessary single-use item, for which more environmentally friendly alternatives already exist. 

“As with all single-use items, it is vital they are disposed of correctly, otherwise they become a problematic source of marine litter and a threat to the health of our environment and wildlife.

“This ban delivers on an important commitment made in our Marine Litter Strategy and builds on previous actions to ban unnecessary single-use plastic items such as plastic-stemmed cotton buds, plastic straws, cutlery and single use vapes.

“These policies are all proof of the progress we are making towards protecting our environment and creating a more circular economy. In addition, we will continue to call on the UK Government to address issues such as misleading claims on product packaging which can lead to incorrect disposal of items such as wet wipes.”

Scottish Water Chief Executive, Alex Plant, said: “This ban will help us tackle one of the biggest challenges we face – responding to and clearing around 35,000 blockages every year in our sewers, at a cost of about £10 million, largely due to wet wipes wrongly flushed down toilets.

“Scottish Water’s Nature Calls campaign has led the way in making the case for a ban – and encourages everyone to bin wet wipes and stick to the 3Ps – flushing only pee, poo and toilet paper. 

“We are also calling on the UK Government for mandatory responsible ‘do not flush’ labelling for all bathroom products that risk being wrongly disposed of to sewers, and an end to misleading environmental claims on packaging to reduce customer confusion and reinforce the correct disposal option. This issue is reserved and the critical next step to reduce blockages further and prevent environmental harm.”

Defra, Greater London Authority, and the Devolved Governments have launched a new interactive dashboard designed to make local air quality information more accessible to the public. For the first time, data managed and collected by local authorities, including diffusion tube data published in annual reports, is being brought together in one central location on UK-AIR. 

This dashboard tool allows users to search by postcode and view air quality information relevant to their area, including local monitoring data. The dashboard will also showcase the actions local authorities are taking to improve air quality, as set out in annual reports. Other new key information includes the locations of Smoke Control Areas and Air Quality Management Areas. By integrating these diverse data sources, the dashboard offers a single location for local air quality information. This not only makes the information more accessible to the public but also increases the value of the considerable effort local authorities invest in assessing air quality and reporting their actions. 

The dashboard has been populated using the information provided through the 2025 annual report submissions. Once reports are accepted, the data is released to UK-AIR. Top three air quality actions for local authorities in England excl. London, Wales and Scotland will continue to be added as they are processed, so we encourage you to check the link again over the next few weeks to see the latest updates. If it is necessary to change the information on the dashboard before the next reporting period or you have questions about your local authority’s dashboard, please contact the LAQM Helpdesk. 

Visit the dashboard here: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/local-authorities-dashboard/

Welcome from our new President, Lindsey-Anne McNeil  

Dear REHIS members,

Thank you to everyone for welcoming me as your new President, it is a tremendous honour, and I am truly grateful for your ongoing support of our professional Institute. Rest assured, I will continue to work diligently to benefit our Institute and all of our members.

Read more here: REHIS President – January 2026 newsletter address 

Diary Dates – Professional Update Courses and Forum 

The Institute professional update courses will take place, online, on the following dates: 

• Food Update – 3 June 2026 
• Health & Safety Update – 2 September 2026 
• Pollution Update –7 October 2026 
• REHIS Environmental Health Update (followed by AGM) – 20 November 2026 
• Public Health and Housing Update – 2 December 2026

The Institute’s Annual Forum will be held in person, on Friday 21 August 2026 in Glasgow. 

Continuing Professional Development 

CPD submissions for calendar year 2025 require to be with the Institute by 31 January 2026. 

The Institute’s Scheme of CPD provides a way for Members of the Institute to evidence their ongoing professional development in an independently assessed way. For EHOs this also offers a means to achieve Chartered EHO status. We encourage all members to submit their CPD through the REHIS website, members only section. For information about the updated CPD scheme please see CPD – REHIS 

REHIS Staff Vacancy – Director of Training 

Many of you may already know that our Director of Training, Sandra Williamson, will be retiring from the Institute at the end of February. Sandra has been a valued member of the REHIS team for many years and has played a vital role in developing our training activities and supporting training centres across Scotland. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication have been greatly appreciated by colleagues, members, and training providers alike. On behalf of everyone at REHIS, we thank Sandra for her outstanding contribution and wish her every happiness in the future. 

As a result of Sandra’s forthcoming departure, the Institute is now seeking to recruit a new Director of Training. For details about the job and how to apply – Vacancies – REHIS. 

Training Update – Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) 

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the qualifications framework in Scotland. It is used to compare and understand the wide range of qualifications available in Scotland; it also allows employers and businesses to compare the level of the qualifications against regulated qualifications across the UK. 

Many REHIS courses are credit rated on the SCQF and recent additions are: 

• REHIS First Aid at Work, SCQF level 6 and awarded 3 credits 
• REHIS Elementary Nutrition Course, SCQF level 5 and awarded 1 credit 

Read more here.

REHIS Mental Health First Aid Course 

The REHIS Mental Health First aid course was launched in October 2025. The aim of the course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required for the responsibility of the role of a mental health first aider. 

Read more here. 

REHIS Members response to SAFER questionnaire 

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) launched details of the SAFER programme last year. The programme aims to reform the delivery of food law in Scotland and is funded through the Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform and Invest to Save initiative. 

We would like to thank members who responded to the REHIS questionnaire issued in December. The response was overwhelming with 95% of responders strongly dissatisfied with the current governance arrangements. A summary is available via the members section of the website. In response, REHIS has written to the Scottish Government and FSS, and are currently in discussions with both regarding the feedback received and will continue to keep members informed of any developments.