Category: News Item

Experts from retail, the waste and chemical industries, the public sector and academia have joined a Scottish Government panel tackling plastic pollution.

The government has also appointed current Electoral Commissioner Dame Sue Bruce as chair of the Expert Panel on Environmental Charges and Other Measures, a group that will provide advice on dealing with disposable cups and plastic straws.

She will be joined by behavioural expert Professor Dame Theresa Marteau, economist Professor Liam Delaney, Mike Barry, the director of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer, Roger Kilburn from the biotech and chemical industry, Professor Margaret Bates from the waste industry and Professor Aileen McHarg who will bring legal expertise.

SEPA chief executive Terry A'Hearn, Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland and disability adviser Professor Kate Sang will also sit on the group. A 2050 Climate Group representative will provide a young person’s perspective.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Scotland has demonstrated leadership in tackling plastic pollution. We were the first country in the UK to commit to introducing a deposit return scheme and we are currently consulting on proposals to ban the manufacture and sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds, one of the items most commonly found on our beaches. 

“But I want to go further, and the creation of our expert panel  is an important step towards seriously addressing this issue in Scotland. The panel’s expertise and skills from across waste, legal, retail and public sectors as well providing a voice for young people and disabled people, will help us identify the bold actions we can take in Scotland to encourage long-term, sustainable changes in consumer and producer behaviour.”

A report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) is the first review of how the 33 EEA member countries (including the 28 European Union Member States) have assessed the risks from climate change, and how they used this information in developing adaptation policies to address these risks. 

The purpose of the report is to share experiences and knowledge and to highlight approaches and practical solutions that countries have used to produce and present their assessments. It also aims to promote a better understanding among experts and policymakers involved in adaptation planning. The findings will contribute to better informed decision making and adaptation in key vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity protection, spatial planning and infrastructure development.

The report is based on information about relevant multi-sectoral assessments reported from EEA member countries. 

The National climate change vulnerability and risk assessments in Europe, 2018 report can be accessed here.

The Local Air Quality Management Policy Guidance for Scotland’s local authorities has been updated. The guidance has been revised to take account of changes to industrial emissions legislation and requirements.

The guidance is intended to help local authorities with their local air quality management duties under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. It sets out:

• the statutory background and the legislative framework within which local authorities have to work;
• the principles behind reviews and assessments of air quality and the recommended steps that local authorities should take; 
• how local authorities should handle the designation of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and the drawing up and implementation of action plans;
• suggestions for taking forward the development of local air quality strategies;
• suggestions on how local authorities should consult and liaise with others;
• the role of transport-related measures in improving air quality;
• the general principles behind air quality and land use planning;
• the effects of biomass on air quality;
• the relationships between air quality and noise policy.

The guidance is intended for all local authority departments involved in local air quality management (LAQM), including environmental health, corporate services, planning, economic development and transport planning. The guidance complements the information and advice contained in Cleaner Air for Scotland(CAFS), which was published in November 2015. 

This policy guidance, along with accompanying technical guidance (TG (16)) and CAFS are the primary guidance documents to which local authorities should have regard when carrying out their air quality review and assessment work. The guidance replaces the LAQM policy guidance published in February 2009. 

The guidance can be accessed here.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) Gastrointestinal and Zoonoses team have published two surveillance reports for Norovirus and Hepatitis E. 

In 2017, HPS received 866 laboratory reports of norovirus (NV), a rate of 16.3 per 100,000. This was a decrease of 683 (44.1%) on the 1549 reports received in 2016 and was the lowest number of reports over the past 10 years. The average number of reports per year in the previous nine years had been 2013 reports, with a range of 1306 to 3109 reports. 

The laboratory reports arise from confirmed infection in the whole population (community and healthcare). Laboratory confirmations represent just a small proportion of the true incidence in the community. 

Laboratory reports of norovirus show a distinct seasonal trend, with the highest number of reports during the winter months. However, whilst reports are most common during the winter months, infection can occur throughout the year. 

Laboratory reports of NV also showed a distinct age distribution affecting predominantly the elderly and young, with 51% (444/866) reported from those aged 65 years and over, 27% (233/866) from those under five years of age, while none of the other age bands accounted for more than 3% of reports. The distribution of laboratory reports among those at the extremes of age probably reflects those from whom samples are most likely to be taken. 

Reports of hepatitis E (HEV) infection in Scotland have increased in recent years, as they have elsewhere in the UK. Since 2011, laboratory reports of HEV in Scotland have increased from 13 in 2011, to a peak of 206 in 2016. In 2017, HPS received 170 reports of HEV, a decline of 36 (17.5%) on the number in 2016. 

The overall rate of HEV in Scotland in 2017 was 3.2 per 100,000, with a predominance of infection in older males, similar to the trend seen elsewhere in the UK. In 2017, 110 (65%) reports were from males of which 45 (41%) were aged 65 years and older. 

HPS is working with Food Standards Scotland, the Scottish Government, NHS boards and Public Health England to improve understanding of the epidemiology of HEV, including risk factors and exposures, to inform public health management and control. 

Norovirus – Surveillance report for 2017 available here.

Hepatitis E – Surveillance report for 2017 available here. 

The UK government has confirmed a new Environmental Principles and Governance Bill will ensure environmental protections will not be weakened as Britain leaves the EU.

A consultation started on 10th May on the contents of the Environmental Principles and Governance Bill, which will establish a world-leading body to hold government to account for environmental outcomes.

The body will support the UK government’s commitment to ensure this generation is the first to leave the environment in a better state than that in which it was inherited.

The body will provide scrutiny and advice to protect and enhance precious landscapes, wildlife and natural assets and would be able to hold government to account on environmental legislation.

Subject to consultation, the new body could specifically be responsible for:

• providing independent scrutiny and advice on existing and future government environmental law and policy;
• responding to complaints about government’s delivery of environmental law; and
• holding government to account publicly over its delivery of environmental law and exercising enforcement powers where necessary.

The Government is also consulting on its intention to require ministers to produce – and then have regard to –a statutory and comprehensive policy statement setting out how they will apply core environmental principles as they develop policy and discharge their responsibilities.

Currently environmental decisions made in the UK – from improving air and water quality to protecting endangered species – are overseen by the European Commission and underpinned by a number of these principles, such as the precautionary principle, sustainable development and the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

While these principles are already central to government environmental policy, they are not set out in one place besides the EU treaties. The new Environmental Principles and Governance Bill will ensure governments continue to have regard to important environmental principles through the policy statement, which would be scrutinised by Parliament.

The consultation seeks views on whether or not the principles to be contained in the policy statement should be listed in primary legislation.

The consultation can be accessed here.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-environment-law-to-deliver-a-green-brexit

Food businesses in Glasgow are being encouraged to improve the overall nutritional quality of food on sale by signing up to the Glasgow Food Pledge. 

Participation in the Glasgow Food Pledge, which is operated by Glasgow City Council Environmental Health, asks that food businesses make three changes to their practices such as:

• Reducing portion size
• Changing the cooking oil to a healthier alternative
• Reducing salt
• Offering healthier options in promotions
• Offering fruit
• Promoting low sugar drinks or water

These changes will provide an improved choice of food on sale in the community and in turn will make a contribution towards the Scottish Dietary Goals. Businesses taking the pledge will benefit from promotion within the local community and wider afield. 

The aim is to apply the principles of reformulation to small businesses. Small changes can make a big difference.

The Glasgow Food Pledge, originally piloted in Shettleston is a means of enabling Food Law Enforcement officers to open a dialogue with a business in the form of a questionnaire and fact sheets. Quite often this is the first time that the business has had a conversation regarding the nutritional quality of food on sale. It reflects the recent high profile reformulation exercises i.e Irn Bru reducing the sugar content ahead of the sugar tax implementation.

Although the project is being piloted in Shettleston, the aim is for the pledge to be widened out to the east end with a view to an eventual roll out across the city.

The development of the Glasgow Food Pledge involved working with pupils at Eastbank Academy in Shettleston, who were surveyed and 60 per cent said they would like to be able to choose healthier food.

Young people at Eastbank Academy indicated that the healthier food choices they wanted included pasta, salad, fruit and vegetables.

Business making the pledge will be promoted locally. The first business to receive the award was Wee Anne's Cafe on Shettleston Road. The business appeared in the Glasgow Evening Times.

Thank you to Paul Birkin, Team Leader, Environmental Health, Glasgow City Council for contributing this article. 

Photograph obtained from Evening Times article. 

An Aberdeenshire based gunsmith and clay pigeon shooting company was fined £6,000 on Friday 11 May, after the death of a 55-year-old man in Findon, Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeen Sherriff Court heard that in November 2014 David Sinclair Paterson was working within an agricultural type storage shed at Seals Cove Shooting Ground, Earnsheugh Bay, Findon, when he was crushed to death by an armoury door that he was helping to reposition within the storage shed.

An investigation by Aberdeenshire Council’s Environmental Health Service found that Neil Charles Anderson, trading as Anderson’s Guns, 201 Hardgate, Aberdeen, who operates Seals Cove Shooting Ground, failed to organise the lifting operation with regard to the armoury door.

Mr Anderson had failed to ensure the lifting operation was properly planned, supervised and carried out safely. The result of this failure was that the armoury door fell, crushing Mr Paterson to death.

Mr Anderson pleaded guilty on April 9 to a charge of contravening Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £6,000, reduced to £4,000 to be paid within 28 days.

Speaking after the hearing, Environmental Protection Team Manager, Louise Cunningham, said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident that could have been prevented had the lifting of the armoury door been properly resourced, planned and organised by a competent person before the lift was started.

“Proper planning of lifting operations ensures not only that suitable equipment is provided for use but that it can be used safely too.

“Companies should be aware that Aberdeenshire Council’s Environmental Health Service will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those which fall below the required standards when carrying out lifting operations and using or providing lifting equipment.

“We would also like to express our sincere sympathy to Mr Paterson’s family at this time.”

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled plans to halve childhood obesity in Scotland by 2030 as she met celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

The Scottish Government will set the target in its Healthy Weight and Diet plan, due to be published this summer.

The First Minister announced the move as she met the celebrity chef, who has previously campaigned to make school dinners healthier, to discuss the problems of childhood obesity and healthy eating.

Almost a third (29%) of Scottish children are at risk of being overweight, with 14% at risk of obesity, according to the latest figures. Meanwhile nine out of 10 people believe the increasing number of Scots who are an unhealthy weight is a serious problem for the nation.

The First Minister said: “Obesity is a serious public health issue which cannot be ignored. Evidence shows obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and become more likely to suffer health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age.

“Our guiding ambition is to halve child obesity in Scotland by 2030 and we’ll outline in our forthcoming Healthy Weight plan how we will develop the necessary actions to achieve this, and help everybody make healthy choices about food.

Oliver added: “First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has shown she cares about the health of Scotland’s kids by committing to halving childhood obesity in the next 12 years. We look forward to seeing her strong multi-layered strategy.”

Ministers at Holyrood have already consulted on plans to end cut price deals on foods which are high in fat, salt and sugar, including a possible ban on multi-buy deals for junk food.

They are also calling for a ban on TV advertising for unhealthy food and drinks before the 9pm watershed, saying if Westminster does not act on this the Scottish Government will press for powers in this area to be devolved.

The First Minister said: “We will tackle junk food promotions and the marketing of unhealthy food, such as multi-buys, that encourage overconsumption.
“To ensure that the steps we take are proportionate and deliver beneficial outcomes, we will consult widely with consumers, suppliers and retailers following the release of the new plan.

“Diet and activity go together and our Healthy Weight plan will build on programmes like Scotland’s Daily Mile that encourage children to be more active, by helping them to improve diet as well and to ensure our younger generations can live fit, healthy and active lives.”

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s cancer prevention expert said: “It’s fantastic that the Scottish Government has reinforced its commitment to tackling Scotland’s obesity crisis. With so many people carrying too much weight, it’s clear bold action is needed.

“Obesity is the biggest cause of cancer after smoking and is responsible for around 2,200 cases a year in Scotland.

“Price promotions play a significant part in what families choose to put into their shopping basket. In the battle to protect the health of future generations, it’s crucial laws are introduced to restrict the damaging supermarket junk food price promotions that are contributing to the nation’s obesity problem.”

Scotland has become the first country in the world to implement minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

New legislation brought into force on 1st May sets a minimum 50 pence per unit price to tackle the damage caused by cheap, high strength alcohol.

Research shows that the move is expected to save 392 lives in the first five years of implementation.

This pioneering experiment is being closely watched both in the rest of the UK and abroad and minimum pricing is becoming a widely accepted idea.

Similar legislation is to come into force next year in Wales. A bill is working its way through the Welsh assembly and will get royal assent this summer. But Wales may set a higher price, of 60p or more per unit.

Speaking during a visit to a hospital ward treating patients with chronic liver problems, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“I am extremely proud that the eyes of the world will once again be on Scotland with the introduction of this legislation.

“Our action is bold and it is brave, and shows once again that we are leading the way in introducing innovative solutions to public health challenges.

“It’s no secret that Scotland has a troubled relationship with alcohol. There are, on average, 22 alcohol-specific deaths every week in Scotland, and 697 hospital admissions and behind every one of these statistics is a person, a family, and a community badly affected by alcohol misuse.

“Given the clear and proven link between consumption and harm, minimum unit pricing is the most effective and efficient way to tackle the cheap, high strength alcohol that causes so much damage to so many families.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“We know we need to act now to change people’s attitudes towards alcohol and I am confident that, with the introduction of minimum unit pricing, we are moving in the right direction. Alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion each year – that’s £900 for every adult in the country.”

During OPSON VII, an EU coordinated action was run with the support of the EU Food Fraud Network across 11 European countries in order to detect fraudulent practices pertaining to tuna fish. This was the first time that such an action was carried out on a specific product.

The illicit practices included substitution and fraudulently selling tuna intended for canning as fresh. In this case, the tuna intended for canning was illegally treated with vegetable extracts containing high concentration of nitrites that altered its colour to give the misleading impression of its freshness. This can represent a serious risk to public health, taking into account that the modification of the initial colour can mask spoilage allowing the development of histamine responsible for the scombroid syndrome in humans. In total more than 51 tonnes of tuna were seized and more than 380 samples were taken.

Justice, police, customs and food experts were mobilised to investigate and to ensure the success of this operation in which 11 countries (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) were involved. In some countries investigations took place on fishing vessels and in processing plants when, in other participating countries, extensive sample plans took place at distribution and retail levels.

In Scotland, the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) at Food Standards Scotland co-ordinated a European partnership approach involving the Food Standards Agency and a number of EU member states to undertake sampling and analysis of tuna. This amounted to samples being taken around Scotland by Officers from Environmental Health services in several local authorities.

Spain and France are also conducting judicial inquiries into tuna destined for canning and sold as fresh and on the illegal use of additives, however the results of which cannot be disclosed at this moment.

Operation OPSON is an international initiative co-ordinated by Europol and Interpol to encourage participating countries to hold a focused period of activity against illicit, counterfeit and sub-standard food.

Alcohol Focus Scotland has worked with the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH) at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, to provide further evidence of the links between alcohol availability and harm in Scotland. 

Previous research carried out by CRESH in 2014 found a positive relationship between alcohol availability and harm across Scotland.  An updated analysis was published in April 2018; profiles containing the updated findings, at both a national and individual local authority level, can be accessed via the links below.  Detailed local information on availability at neighbourhood level can be found using the CRESH WebMap.

Information was gathered on the number of places selling alcohol, health harms and crime rates within neighbourhoods across the whole of Scotland and for each local authority area. Researchers compared data zones (small areas representing neighbourhoods that have between 500 and 1000 residents) to see if there was a relationship between the number of alcohol outlets in a neighbourhood and the rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations.  The profiles also consider, for the first time, the relationships between alcohol outlet availability and crime and deprivation rates.   

Across the whole of Scotland, neighbourhoods with the highest alcohol outlet availability had significantly higher rates of alcohol-related health harm and crime.

• Alcohol-related death rates in neighbourhoods with the most alcohol outlets were double those in neighbourhoods with the least.
• Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates in neighbourhoods with the most alcohol outlets were almost double those in neighbourhoods with the least.
• Crime rates were more than four times higher in neighbourhoods with the most alcohol outlets as compared to the least.
• Alcohol outlet availability was found to be related to health and crime outcomes for both on-sales and off-sales premises, and in both urban and rural local authorities.
• The relationships between availability and harm were found even when other factors were discounted (such as age and sex of the population, levels of income deprivation or urban/rural status).
• There were 40% more alcohol outlets in the most deprived neighbourhoods than in the least deprived neighbourhoods.
• From 2012 to 2016, the total number of alcohol outlets in Scotland increased by 472 to 16,629 (11,522 on-sales outlets and 5,107 off-sales outlets).  This increase was driven by an increase in off-sales outlets.

For more information see here. 

Environmental Health undergraduate students from IFEH Member Countries or IFEH Academic Association members are invited to submit essay and accompanying power-point presentation for the prestigious Roy Emerson Award.

The topic for this year’s essay competition is “Global Food Safety and Sustainability”. The essay is to discuss and critically appraise the aims to support the provision of safe food, to make use of precious water & nutrient resources, and for communities to increasingly value sustainable food production.

A panel of judges chaired by the IFEH President Selva Mudaly, will review the essays and presentations and select the Award Winner for the Roy Emerson Award.

The winning entry will be invited to receive the Roy Emerson Award and present the essay at the IFEH Academic Conference in Uganda from 9th – 11th April 2019 with all expenses for travel and accommodation will be paid by the Federation.

Students are invited to submit a 2000 – 3000 word essay and accompanying power point by 31^stOctober 2018 to Rod House, Hon Secretary IFEH at rod.house@ntlworld.comusing word, pdf & ppt formats.

For more information please see document here.