Author: Sarah Groom

The Scottish Government have announced proposals to introduce a strict licensing framework for canine fertility businesses.

The planned licensing scheme will clamp down on unethical breeding practices, regulate the services offered, ensure higher standards of care and protect animal welfare.

Businesses offering canine fertility services will be licensed annually, and subject to regular inspections to ensure compliance with licensing conditions.

The proposals are a response to concerns raised by those in the veterinary profession and key animal welfare organisations regarding the unregulated nature of businesses offering canine fertility services.

From July to September 2023, the Scottish Government consulted to gauge support for and gather evidence to inform proposals to license animal care services. The analysis of consultation responses was published on 16 February 2024.

89% of respondents to the consultation undertaken last year supported the Scottish Government’s proposal to license canine fertility businesses.

Secondary legislation to allow for licensing of canine fertility clinics will be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity. 

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said:

“It is clear to me that there are significant concerns about the activities of canine fertility businesses. It is unacceptable that these businesses can operate with little in the way of regulatory oversight or accountability.

“Our decision follows careful consideration of the views expressed following public consultation last year, as well as extensive discussions with those in the veterinary profession, animal welfare organisations and local authorities.

“Our intention to bring in these measures demonstrates that we remain firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare in Scotland.”

Scottish SPCA Director of Innovation and Strategic Relations Gilly Mendes Ferreira says:

“We have seen a surge in the establishment of canine fertility businesses in recent years, especially involving high value breeds like French Bulldogs who often struggle to give birth naturally.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s responsiveness to our concerns and support the move to license these businesses. It will be imperative that licensing inspections are conducted by registered, experienced veterinary surgeons.

“We look forward to collaborating closely on the details of the new framework for licensing these establishments in Scotland.”

Public Health Scotland (PHS) and the Scottish Directors of Public Health have published a consensus statement – Improving Scotland’s diet and weight. This document outlines the urgent need for action to improve the health and well-being of Scotland’s population through decisive action to improve diet and weight. 

As the working age population is set to shrink in the coming years, it is vital that everyone is supported to live a long, healthy and independent life. In addition to the obvious benefits at an individual level, making improvements to Scotland’s diet and weight at a population level is also critical for protecting public services and enabling the economy to thrive.

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. These are important routes to improving population health.

Around two-thirds of all adults in Scotland (67%) are recognised to be living with overweight (including obesity), with one third (33%) of children starting primary school being at risk of overweight (including obesity).

Claire Hislop, Registered Public Health Nutritionist at PHS and Organisational Lead for Food and Physical Activity said:

“Having an environment where healthy food is available and affordable, and where physical activity is part of everyday life, will help improve the health of everyone in Scotland.  This statement sets out the challenges we face around eating well and maintaining a healthy weight, making recommendations for key areas for action.  Addressing these actions comprehensively will not only improve individual health outcomes but also support the sustainability of public services and the economy.”

Dona Milne, Scottish Directors of Public Health said:

“The places where we live, work, learn, care and play must prioritise health. We must accelerate efforts to ensure all communities have access to sustainable, affordable and healthy food and drink options and opportunities to be physically active.”

Read the full consensus statement 

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and North Lanarkshire Council are warning consumers to be on the lookout for counterfeit alcohol products following discovery of products in Coatbridge.

Over 40 bottles (35cl) of counterfeit vodka, fraudulently labelled as Glen’s, were recovered from a shop in Coatbridge after a member of the public reported that the product they had purchased smelled of nail varnish remover. Officers from North Lanarkshire Council’s environmental health team and FSS then took swift action to locate and remove these products from the shelves and samples have been sent for analysis..

FSS and North Lanarkshire Council are warning consumers to be extra vigilant when purchasing alcohol and should check any recently purchased products. Anyone who believes they may have purchased counterfeit alcohol should contact their local council’s environmental health service or the FSS Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit – foodcrime@fss.scot. North Lanarkshire Council’s environmental health can be contacted at  01236  856361 / environmental-health@northlan.gov.uk.

Ron McNaughton, Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at FSS, said: “Drinking these types of products presents a huge risk to health.

“The labelling, the look of the packaging and the smell can suggest something’s not right. When you buy counterfeit alcohol you have no way of knowing what ingredients it contains and how strong it is, which could lead to serious illness and intoxication following one or two drinks.

“Please get in touch if you believe you have bought any counterfeit products.”

Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This was a significant discovery by officers from a retail premises in Coatbridge, who acted quickly to remove the fake products from sale. Our environmental health and food safety officers remain vigilant to the potential issue of counterfeit alcohol within North Lanarkshire to protect public health.’’

If anyone has any information in relation to counterfeit alcohol or food crime more generally, then please contact the Scottish Food Crime Hotline (0800 028 7926), in partnership with Crimestoppers. The hotline is free and anonymous.

Health and Safety Update, 4 September 2024

This year’s annual Health and Safety Update is taking place on the morning of Wednesday 4 September on MS Teams. There is an interesting line up of speakers planned.  The programme and booking form will shortly be available on the website.

Professional Development

Plans are well underway for the next diet of professional interviews, which will be at the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline on 1-3 October 2024 where there are 27 candidates expected to sit the REHIS Diploma or SFSORB exams. 

Carol Walker, one of the Directors of Professional Development, is leaving the Institute at the beginning of August to take up a new position in a local authority.  We thank Carol and wish her all the very best for the future. 

Annual General Meeting and EH Update

This year’s AGM will be held on Friday 22 November as a hybrid meeting at the COSLA Conference Centre and on MS Teams. The REHIS Council has asked that the Institute reduces the amount of paper to be more sustainable, increase efficiency and to save costs.  It was therefore agreed that the notification of the AGM letter and the meeting papers will be emailed to members where possible and uploaded to the members section of the website. If any members have questions regarding this or specifically wish a paper copy, please contact the Chief Executive directly contact@  We thank all members for their continued support.

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) have published their Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain 2024 report which reveals a total of 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in Great Britain in 2023/24, an increase of 2 fatalities from 2022/23

The most common kinds of fatal accidents to workers continue as falls from a height, struck by moving vehicle, and struck by moving object, between them accounting for around 70% of fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24.

The construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors continue to account for the greatest number of workers killed in fatal accidents each year, between them accounting for just over half of all fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24.

Male workers continue to account for the vast majority of fatal injuries, with 95% of workers fatally injured in 2023/24 being men, a similar proportion to earlier years. Furthermore, deaths to workers aged 60 and over continue to account for a substantial proportion of the total – 34% in 2023/24.

The HSE explains that the fatal injuries to workers and members of the public figures are provisional and will be finalised in July 2025 to reflect any necessary adjustments.

City of York Council has launched a new service designed to send free air pollution alerts and health advice to residents and visitors most likely to be affected by air pollution. 

The York Air Quality Alert service is funded by DEFRA and aims to give advanced warning of when air pollution is expected to be higher than usual, up to 3 days ahead.

The service will provide clear and easy-to-read information about day-to-day pollution across the city. Anyone can sign up to these alerts by text, email or voicemail, and users can select alerts for different areas of the city, depending on where they live or work.

Air pollution levels often rise on hot, sunny days in summer, and on cold, still days in winter. Once these levels increase, they often remain high for 2 or 3 days; this a called a pollution episode. Pollution episodes in York are uncommon; but when they do occur, they can have a serious impact on people who suffer from respiratory or cardiovascular conditions like asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or heart disease.

Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council, said:

“This is a really simple and easy to use tool to help residents with health conditions affected by air pollution plan ahead and reduce exposure.

“We hope these forecasts will also raise awareness of air pollution across the city and encourage people to consider their air quality impact in helping to protect everyone’s health. Poor air quality is a contributory factor in 1 in 22 deaths in York. We can all improve this statistic; share a lift to work, work from home or walk, catch the bus or cycle, if possible, especially on days with high pollution. Solid fuel fires should also be avoided wherever possible.

“The new website will display maps outlining day-to-day air pollution levels. The alerts sent out will offer guidance on whether people are at risk from air pollution on a particular day and provide advice on how to stay healthy and aware.”

The new service is being introduced as part of York’s updated Air Quality Action Plan. The plan outlines actions that the council will take to raise awareness of air pollution and improve air quality in the city over the next 5 years. It aims to go beyond the current National Air Quality Objectives and work towards meeting the World Health Organisation Air Quality Guidelines.

The prevalence of Vibrio in seafood is expected to increase both globally and in Europe because of climate change according to EFSA’s scientists.

EFSA’s scientists have carried out an assessment of the public health aspects of Vibrio spp. related to the consumption of seafood and anticipated that the occurrence and levels of Vibrio in seafood will rise in response to coastal warming and extreme weather events.

Vibrios are waterborne bacteria that mainly live in marine coastal waters and brackish areas (where rivers meet the sea) and thrive in warm waters with moderate salinity. Some strains are pathogenic and can cause gastroenteritis or severe infections.

The bacterial group of Vibrio comprises several species that can cause Vibriosis. In the European Union, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio cholerae are the species of highest relevance for public health regarding seafood consumption. V. parahaemolyticus can cause gastroenteritis in healthy individuals, while V. vulnificus and V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 can lead to severe infections, sepsis, and death in vulnerable individuals.

Due to an increase in extreme weather events, like heatwaves, over the past 20 years, Europe has seen a rise in Vibrio infections. Warmer coastal waters have led to an expansion of areas where Vibrio bacteria can multiply, resulting in a higher risk of infections from the consumption of contaminated seafood. Regions that are particularly at risk include those with brackish or low-salinity waters (e.g., the Baltic Sea, Baltic and North Sea transitional waters, and the Black Sea) as well as coastal areas with large-river inflows.

In EFSA’s assessment, experts anticipate that the occurrence and levels of Vibrio in seafood will increase globally and in Europe, especially in low-salinity/brackish waters, due to the effects of climate change, such as coastal warming and extreme weather events like heatwaves.

To prevent and control Vibrio in seafood, maintaining the cold chain during processing, transportation, and storage is crucial, particularly for seafood intended to be consumed raw. Possible measures to reduce Vibrio are high pressure processing, irradiation and (flash) freezing followed by long-term frozen storage. Depuration, which involves placing live molluscs in tanks with clean, circulating seawater to filter out microbes, is recommended under controlled conditions for live oyster consumption. Recommendations for consumers include ensuring proper handling and cooking of seafood, and avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked products, especially for vulnerable individuals.

Experts assessed 46 studies in 16 countries covering the 2000 to 2022 period. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was found in 20 percent of more than 10,600 tested seafood samples, with one in five positives containing pathogenic strains. Vibrio vulnificus was detected in around 6 percent of almost 3,000 seafood samples. The prevalence of Non-chlorogenic Vibrio cholera was estimated at 4 percent.

In the EU, 32 outbreaks caused by Vibrio in seafood were reported from 2010 to 2021, causing 221 cases, of which 57 were hospitalised. 75 Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications covering Vibrio in seafood were reported between 2010 and January 2023. Only four were associated with food of EU origin.

Australia’s largest Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak in raw oysters in 2021 affected more than 250 people and led to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) requesting information from several countries, including those in the EU, about Vibrio in 2022.

In 2022, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published a health risk assessment on the occurrence of Vibrio in food, which said that the consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked food products is one of the most critical factors for transmission.

Studies on Vibrio isolates found in seafood or from isolates causing foodborne infections in Europe detected resistance to several antimicrobials, including those of last resort.

Scientists said a priority for future research is establishing an EU-wide baseline survey for Vibrio in seafood products, including at the primary production and retail stages. They recommended developing a case definition for human vibriosis at the EU level and considering vibriosis for compulsory reporting.

A food business owner in Somerset has been ordered to pay more than £50,000 following a successful prosecution for failing to test chickens and eggs for salmonella before they went into the food chain following a joint investigation by Devon County Council trading standards service and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Poultry farmer Stuart Perkins of SG Perkins Ltd, age 38 from Somerset, received the substantial fine at Bath Magistrates Court on Wednesday 3 July after pleading guilty to various offences under The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and the Animal Health Act 1981 and was found to was also found to have presented birds for slaughter with either falsified documents or with documentation which did not relate to those particular birds.

The FSA, working with partners including Avon and Somerset police, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, executed a search warrant at the poultry farm and abattoir in November 2023 and found evidence of traceability concerns and that Perkins had falsified Salmonella testing certificates.  This meant birds had been slaughtered for the food chain without proof they were free from disease. 

The Animal and Plant Health Agency supported the investigations, monitoring the welfare of the poultry on site and collecting official Salmonella samples. 

The court heard that Perkins ran a farm producing boiler chickens and free-range eggs, with the chickens being processed at his abattoir across the road.

By law, farms producing eggs are required to conduct routine salmonella tests in their poultry sheds every 15 weeks during the laying period.

In addition, all birds must arrive at the slaughterhouse with the salmonella test result and the date the sample was taken.

But when the Egg Marketing Inspector visited the farm and requested salmonella reports, Perkins produced 16 reports dated back to August 2021, 13 of which had been falsified.

As part of the investigation, 43 documents showing that testing had been carried out on the chickens were also found to have been filled out by Perkins himself.

Perkins and his company, SG Perkins Limited was ordered to pay a total of £50,830.75.

This includes a fine of £5000 for each of the offences prosecuted by the Food Standards Agency (£20,000 total), and £3500 for each of the offences related to his business (total £7000).

Costs of £15472.75 were awarded to the FSA and costs of £6358 were awarded to Devon County Council (Trading Standards) and a victim surcharge of £2000.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published a report of its first investigation into the nation’s resilience and preparedness for the pandemic and makes 10 key recommendations.

These recommendations include a major overhaul of how the UK government prepares for civil emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other key recommendations include a radical simplification of civil emergency preparedness and resilience systems, holding a UK-wide pandemic response exercise at least every three years and the creation of a single, independent statutory body responsible for whole system preparedness and response.

In what is the first of a series of reports that set out the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s recommendations and findings, its chair Baroness Heather Hallett recommends fundamental reform of how the UK government and the devolved administrations prepare for whole-system civil emergencies.

The inquiry’s first report (Module 1) examined the state of the UK’s structures and procedures and how well they prepared for and responded to the pandemic. Prior to the first public hearing, 18,000 documents were disclosed to the core participants so they could prepare, notes the report.

Hearings for Module 1 were held in London in June and July 2023 and the Chair heard from current and former politicians as well as key scientists, experts, civil servants and bereaved family members.

Following these hearings, the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations are set out in the report published.

In her findings, the Chair concludes that the UK’s system of building preparedness for the pandemic suffered from several significant flaws.

These include a flawed approach to risk assessment, a failure to fully learn from past civil emergency exercises and outbreaks of disease, and Ministers not receiving a broad enough range of scientific advice and failing to challenge the advice they did get.

Baroness Hallett acknowledges the pressure on politicians and others to make tough decisions about how resources should be used. However, she also stresses that if the UK had been better prepared, the nation could have avoided some of the significant and long-lasting financial, economic and human costs of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In summary her recommendations are:

• A radical simplification of the civil emergency preparedness and resilience systems. This includes rationalising and streamlining the current bureaucracy and providing better, simpler Ministerial and official structures and leadership;
• A new approach to risk assessment that provides for a better and more comprehensive evaluation of a wider range of actual risks;
• A new UK-wide approach to the development of strategy, which learns lessons from the past and from regular civil emergency exercises and takes proper account of existing inequalities and vulnerabilities;
  Better systems of data collection and sharing in advance of future pandemics, and the commissioning of a wider range of research projects;
• Holding a UK-wide pandemic response exercise at least every three years and publishing the outcome;
  Bringing in external expertise from outside government and the Civil Service to challenge and guard against the known problem of ‘groupthink’;
• Publication of regular reports on the system of civil emergency preparedness and resilience;
• Lastly and most importantly, the creation of a single, independent statutory body responsible for whole system preparedness and response. It will consult widely, for example with experts in the field of preparedness and resilience and the voluntary, community and social sector, and provide strategic advice to government and make recommendations.

The Chair believes that all 10 recommendations are reasonable and deliverable and all must be implemented in a timely manner. The Inquiry and the Chair will be monitoring the implementation of the recommendations and will hold those in power to account.

The Chair has today restated her aim to conclude all public hearings by summer 2026, and to publish reports with findings and recommendations as the Inquiry progresses.

The Inquiry’s next report – focusing on Core UK decision-making and political governance – including in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C) – is expected to be published in 2025.

Future reports will focus on specific areas, including:

• Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core UK decision-making and political governance – including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Module 3: Healthcare systems
• Module 4: Vaccines and therapeutics
• Module 5: Procurement – procurement and distribution of key equipment and supplies
• Module 6: The care sector
• Module 7: Test, trace, and isolate programmes
• Module 8: Children and young people
• Module 9: Economic response to the pandemic

For more details of these modules visit the Inquiry’s website.

The Chair is also examining the best way to fulfil her Terms of Reference and investigate the impact of the pandemic on the population of the UK. This will cover a wide range of those affected and include the impact on mental health. https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/reports/

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published a three-year Adverse Weather and Health Plan which sets out how the organisation, with support from the Scottish Government and working in partnership with key stakeholders, will help to protect the health of the population from weather-related harm.

It is anticipated that climate change will have an increasing impact on Scotland’s weather. Climate predictions suggest that Scotland can expect adverse weather events, such as floods and heatwaves, to become more frequent and intense.

Such adverse weather events, will directly and indirectly impact health and wellbeing, potentially widening existing health inequalities.

Jess Baker, Public Health Consultant, Environmental Public Health Team, PHS said:

“The impacts of adverse weather events on health can be significant, often amplifying existing health conditions and sometimes resulting in premature death, disease and disability.

“This Adverse Weather and Health Plan sets out PHS’s commitment to working with partners to help mitigate, prepare for, and respond to the potential health risks associated with hot and cold weather, flooding and drought. There are several areas for action which we believe can make a real difference over the coming years, including developing our epidemiology and surveillance systems to help assess and monitor public health action.

“PHS cannot achieve the actions outlined in the plan alone, and the time and expertise of those who have contributed to it is greatly appreciated. In the coming months, work will be undertaken with Scottish Government, partners across public health and wider stakeholders to establish how we will work together as we move forward.”

View the Adverse Weather and Health Plan.

Legislation giving Ministers and local authorities the tools needed to increase reuse and recycling rates, as well as modernise and improve waste and recycling services, has been passed.

The Circular Economy Bill will give Ministers the powers to:

• set local recycling targets, building on the experience of Wales, which has the best recycling rate in the UK
• set statutory targets for delivery of a circular economy to measure progress in transforming the economy
• restrict the disposal of unsold consumer goods, to prevent good products ending up in landfill
• place charges on single-use items like disposable cups to encourage the move to reusable alternatives
• give local authorities additional enforcement powers, allowing them to crack down on flytipping and littering from cars.

The measures will be underpinned by support and investment, building on the investments already made through the £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund.

Minister for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: “There are huge opportunities in having an economy which makes reuse and recycling the default choice for Scottish households, businesses and the public sector.

“We have already seen businesses creating jobs by turning what we might otherwise throw away into valuable new products and services.

“The measures in the Circular Economy Bill will give local Councils and the Scottish Government the powers needed to support the sustainable use of resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“For people to do the right thing for the planet, it is crucial that everyone experiences a modern, easy to use waste service.

“We will continue to work with local authorities and householders to co-design how these powers are implemented to take account of different circumstances and needs on our journey towards a truly circular economy.”

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published Public health guidance for cyanobacteria.

This guidance provides updated information on the public health risks associated with cyanobacteria. It provides background information about cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and the occurrence of cyanobacterial incidents in Scotland. 

This guidance recommends each NHS board area should make a local action plan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

This guidance also advises on surveillance and approaches for investigating public health incidents possibly associated with cyanobacteria. An editable cyanobacteria risk assessment template is available on this page to download.

Information about the roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies is included.

You can access the guidance on the PHS website: Public health guidance for cyanobacteria