Author: Sarah Groom

On 23 September Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie chaired a summit in Inverness bringing together local councillors, housing associations, business representatives, waste management organisations and community groups, scientific experts and NatureScot.

The summit was called to address growing concerns about gull behaviour in urban areas, where populations are increasing, even as coastal numbers decline.

He will also confirm that NatureScot will be investing £100,000 in councils to support efforts to limit the damage caused by gulls, ahead of next year’s breeding season. Deterrents can include measures such as the use of lasers, noise, roof spikes and netting to prevent nesting.

Mr Fairlie said:

“The summit allows us to share practical solutions, learn from real-world examples and identify gaps in current policies to develop a coordinated approach. We know that effective gull management often requires a range of solutions, particularly around litter management which provides food sources.

“Where public safety is at risk, NatureScot can issue control licences. Our focus now is on how we can prevent these issues from arising next year, with extra support provided and I look forward to seeing the projects that this additional funding will help.

“By working directly with affected communities and expert advisors we can ensure solutions are tailored to local circumstances with effective deterrents that make urban areas less attractive to gulls.”

Professor Colin Galbraith, NatureScot Chair, said:

“The evidence is clear that our gull populations are in decline. In some areas, gulls have adapted to the pressures they face – from climate change to food shortages and avian flu – by moving into our towns and cities in search of easier food and safe nest sites. We understand that some urban areas are experiencing issues with gulls and that this can have an impact on people’s lives, especially during the nesting season.

“While the debate on urban gulls has long centred on control through licensing, and that will undoubtably remain part of the picture, it is important at the same time to look at the underlying reasons for any problems, including the availability of food and nest sites for the gulls in urban settings.

“This funding will support local authorities to develop proactive and collaborative plans to manage gulls in a way that balances their conservation with any control activities.”

From 29 September to 5 October, Scotland’s Climate Week will spotlight how organisations and communities across Scotland are working together to build a climate ready future. Whether it’s through local partnerships, staff engagement, or implementing sustainable practices — your organisation can play a key role in driving action.

Here’s How Your Organisation Can Get Involved

1. Use the Climate Week toolkit – featuring social media assets and copy, WhatsApp templates, and editorial content for emails, intranets, and blogs.  These can help you to share your organisation’s commitment and encourage others to take action.
2. Reshare Net Zero Scotland content on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram to help amplify the message and drive collective action. You can also download our social content calendar to help plan and schedule your posts.
3. Encourage everyday climate-positive behaviours – like reducing energy use, choosing active or public transport, cutting food waste, and switching off vehicle engines when stationary. These simple actions help lower emissions and build healthier, more sustainable communities.
4. Use #ScotClimateWeek and #LetsDoNetZero to connect with others and showcase your organisation’s role in building a climate-ready Scotland.
5. Share your sustainability story —we can help amplify it, connect you with others, and grow the movement for change.

Find out more about Scotland’s Climate Week by visiting netzeronation.scot.

Researchers said they hope the plan can turn worry into action amid rising climate risks. 

Glasgow Caledonian University has received almost £100,000 to lead a national project aimed at helping households across Scotland better prepare for flooding – one of the country’s most pressing climate challenges.

The seven-month initiative, funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), is set to run until spring 2026 and aims to develop a practical, easy-to-use household flood plan which can be adopted by families across the country. It comes as new research suggests a worrying lack of preparedness among the public despite increasingly frequent and severe weather events linked to climate change.

According to data from Glasgow Caledonian, only 28% of Scottish households feel ready for a flood, while just 3% have taken practical steps such as installing resilience measures. Fewer than one in three receive flood alerts or weather warnings.

‘Flooding is one of Scotland’s biggest climate challenges, but too few people feel prepared,’ Dr Fiona Henderson, leader of the project in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and the James Hutton Institute, said. ‘By using insights from behavioural science, we want to help households take small, practical steps that could make a big difference when disaster strikes.’

At the centre of the project is a Household Flood Plan template, which offers a checklist of protective actions. These include guidance on how to how to safely switch off power and water, where to store key documents, and what to pack if evacuation is necessary. What’s more, the document is set to be professionally designed to ensure it is clear and accessible. 

Going forward, Henderson said the project, which has been commissioned by the Scottish Government, SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and the Scottish Flood Forum, will eventually become more than just a checklist. 

‘This research explores whether filling out a household flood plan can be a powerful first step – boosting awareness, encouraging responsibility and leading to further protective actions such as fitting flood barriers,’ Henderson explained. 

‘This work brings together research, community voices, and government support – not just to build Scotland’s resilience, but to share lessons internationally on how households can adapt to climate change.’

A final version of the Household Flood Plan template and guidance will be free toaccess on the CREW website in 2026, alongside a full report on the project’s findings.

Air pollution across the UK dropped between 2015 and 2024, but dangerous levels are still reached too often, shows new research published in Environmental Science: Atmospheres. 

Scientists from the University of Reading studied pollution at more than 500 monitoring sites around the UK. They looked at three main types of air pollution which harm people’s health. Two types of pollution got better over the decade. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is mainly produced by traffic, fell by 35% on average at monitoring sites. Fine particles called PM2.5, which are small enough to get deep into lungs, dropped by 30%. 

Despite these improvements, pollution still breaks safety limits too often. The average number of days each year when NO2 exceeded World Health Organization targets fell from 136 to 40 days, while for PM2.5 particles exceedances decreased from 60 to 22 days per year.  

In contrast to NO2 and PM2.5, another pollutant, surface ozone (O3) increased by 17% on average over the decade. The number of days when O3, which is formed when sunlight interacts with NO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by traffic and industry, exceeded targets doubled from 7 to 14 per year. 

Dr James Weber, lead author at the University of Reading, said: “The UK has made progress on air quality, but there is still a long way to go. Pollution from traffic is getting better, but we need both local action and international cooperation to improve all types of air pollution. The fact that O3 is getting worse while other pollution improves shows we need to think carefully about how we tackle this problem and not focus on pollutants in isolation.” 

The research highlight that different pollution types come from different sources. NO2 pollution is mainly driven by local traffic, while PM2.5 particles often blow in from other parts of the UK and continental Europe. Ozone pollution comes from both local and distant sources.   

These findings mean different approaches are needed to tackle each type of pollution. Cleaner vehicles can help reduce NO2 from traffic, but cutting PM2.5 pollution needs national and international efforts because it can travel long distances across borders from continental Europe. O3 presents a complex challenge as its formation depends on the balance of certain gases in the atmosphere, their interaction with sunlight and temperature. In particular, as NO2 decreases, O3 will increase in most urban areas unless simultaneous efforts are made to reduce the VOCs which fuel its production, highlighting the need for multi-pollutant policies which span multiple sectors and countries. 

Legislation to restrict supermarket sales of foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) has led to a marked reduction in purchases, according to the first ever independent analysis.

The research, which was carried out in England by the University of Leeds, estimates that two million fewer in-scope HFSS products were sold per day after the new law took effect.

Before the legislation was implemented, 20 out of every 100 items sold were in-scope HFSS products. Following legislation this number dropped to 19.

For the evaluation, researchers used store level sales and product data from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, alongside the Priority Places for Food Index , an online tool which identifies neighbourhoods most in need of support to access affordable, healthy and sustainable foods. 
 
They also conducted surveys and interviews with representatives from the four UK supermarkets, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and enforcement officers. 

Nearly 2,000 shoppers were also surveyed to find out how the legislation was perceived and how it impacted shopping behaviours.

The legislation, which restricts the location of products that are high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS), was introduced in England in October 2022 as part of the UK Government’s Childhood Obesity Strategy. 
 
Data were analysed by researchers in the Nutrition and Lifestyle Analytics team at the University of Leeds, led by Professor Michelle Morris. She said: “Our research shows that the HFSS legislation was a force for good, leading to significant reduction in sales of in-scope HFSS products.
 
“But more now needs to be done to make healthy and sustainable diets the easy choice for our population, so that we can shift more people’s eating habits towards the national recommendations of the Eatwell Guide.” 

The research is part of a broader UK Research and Innovation Transforming UK Food Systems-funded academic collaboration entitled Diet and Health Inequalities (DIO-Food), which is led by Professor Alexandra Johnstone at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen. She said: “It is critical that any new legislation does not widen dietary inequalities for vulnerable groups, like people living with food insecurity.  

“We are reassured to see from our research that the impact of the HFSS legislation was equitable in stores located in areas with different levels of priority according to the Priority Places for Food Index.”

Dr Alison Fildes, of the University of Leeds School of Psychology, was a co-investigator on the project. She added: “Our findings suggested shoppers were in favour of the HFSS legislation. However, they also expressed their support for greater promotion and affordability of healthy foods. 

“Tightening the current legislating to ensure HFSS products are replaced in prominent locations with healthier foods, would go further towards helping shoppers make healthier purchases”

Soil Association Scotland and Moray Council are collaborating on a pilot project to get organic peas into school meals, thanks to extended funding from Sustain’s Bridging the Gap Programme.

The Give Peas a Chance! pilot project aims to open up a new route to market for this local and organic plant protein, allowing pupils to access healthy and sustainable food. It is a partnership between Soil Association Scotland, Moray Council and other councils in the north east of Scotland, pea producer Phil Swire of Balmakewan Farm, the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI).

The organic dried split peas are grown in Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire. The roots of the pea plants have a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria, which fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it a climate-friendly protein that also has huge nutritional benefits for Moray’s school pupils. The Council’s school meals menu, launched for the start of the new school year, includes delicious pea-based dishes, such as pea soup and even choc-pea brownies, which have already been a huge hit with pupils.

Sarah Gowanlock, Partnerships Manager, Soil Association Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to bring this exciting pilot project to Moray, and to bring organic split peas to even more pupils in Scotland’s northeast. We’ve seen through the first 12 months of the pilot project that school meals that include this plant protein are a win-win: locally sourced, sustainable and nutritious. In collaboration with Moray Council, we want to show the power of public procurement for getting more of these types of high-quality Scottish ingredients on to school meal plates.”

Cllr Kathleen Robertson, Chair of Moray Council’s Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee, said: “We’re always looking for ways to make school meals more engaging, nutritious and sustainable. This project is a fantastic example of how we can do all three, while giving pupils the opportunity to understand where their food comes from.”

Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland says “Scotland’s tap water quality is impressive, but more needs to be done to reduce risk”. 

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) for Scotland’s latest annual report shows that Scottish Water’s compliance with the stringent standards for drinking water remains very high, however there are too many avoidable incidents.  

David Reynolds, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator said: “Our drinking water in Scotland is amongst the finest in the world, however we need to invest to ensure this remains true. Scottish Water is managing a number of risks, and I would like to see these greatly reduced by ensuring assets fail-safe when things go wrong.” 

“Consumers expect their tap water to look and taste good. I am disappointed in the number of incidents where consumers received discoloured water and Scottish Water needs to do more to prevent these situations.” 

• The report, covering Drinking Water Quality in Scotland during 2024, states that a total of 156,814 regulatory tests were carried out on samples taken from consumers’ taps, and 99.92% of these met the required standards.  
• 23 out of 62,352 tests on samples of water leaving water treatment works failed to meet standards, a slight decline in performance on 2023. 
• Scottish Water received 16,779 complaints from consumers about the quality of their drinking water in 2024, with the majority of these in connection with discoloured water 
• The number of water quality incidents requiring detailed investigation by the DWQR during 2024 was 34, compared with 29 in the previous year, a figure the regulator considers too high.  

A full copy of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2024 is available at www.dwqr.org.uk  

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.