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Actions aimed at ensuring households and businesses in Scotland boost reuse and recycling rates and cut waste have been published.

The Circular Economy and Waste Route Map sets out 11 priority areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated to support a transition to a circular economy – where resources are kept in use for as long as possible. 

The 11 priority areas are:

1. Publish a Product Stewardship Plan to set out how we will tackle the environmental impact of priority products by 2025/26
2. Develop an intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change by 2026/27
3. Develop with stakeholders’ effective options to implement mandatory reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses from 2025/26
4. Support the development of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets from 2025-2027
5. Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services, 2024 – 2026
6. Review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements, 2026
7. Co-design measures to improve commercial waste service provisions, commencing by 2030
8. Develop a Residual Waste Plan to 2045, by 2027
9. Facilitate the development of a Sector-Led Plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the energy from waste sector, by 2027
10. Develop a circular economy strategy every five years, with first one published in 2026
11. Set new circular economy targets by 2027

The Route Map is the product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of support for the proposals.

The overall recycling rate in Scotland is at its highest level since records began in 2011, and the actions in the Route Map complement provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, which was passed unanimously by MSPs in June.  

Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin launched the Route Map at a visit to Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, which upcycles discarded wooden furniture into new items.

She said: “Reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to play in Scotland’s response to tackling the climate crisis. 

“We must make the circular option, where we value materials and keep them in use for as long as possible, either in their original form or recycled, an easier choice for Scottish households, businesses and the public sector.

“The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to help make this a reality and I want to thank all those who have contributed to its development.

“There have been consistently high levels of support for its actions, which promote and support responsible production and consumption, along with the sustainable management of Scotland’s resources – and the final route map will be key to supporting the Scottish Government’s net zero and economic growth goals.”

Helene van der Ploeg, CEO of the Grassmarket Community Project said: “We pride ourselves on our initiatives to repurpose, recycle and reuse through our wood workshop, and Tartan shop. Old furniture, church pews and fallen trees are donated and re-worked into beautiful pieces of furniture or small household items. Leftover tartan from weavers, and donated fabric scraps are handcrafted into beautiful gifts.

“These materials, once considered waste and destined for landfill, are now valuable contributors to the circular economy. Thanks to generous donations, we’re recycling these materials, giving them new purpose, and creating timeless treasures that will be passed down through generations.

“Along the way, we generate income, provide essential skills training for our members (beneficiaries) and volunteers, all of which embodies and reinforces the values of the Route Map and our commitment to the circular economy.”

On 20 December, new legislation was introduced that will help prevent around 200 cases of debilitating brain and spine defects in babies each year in the UK by fortifying non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid.

The legislation requires millers and flour producers in the UK to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid by the end of 2026. 

Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of neural tube defects in babies, including spina bifida. Increasing a woman’s intake of folic acid can help prevent these serious and debilitating conditions.

Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamin and iron to improve public health. The move to include folic acid could help to reduce neural tube defects by 20% in the UK and improve the health of pregnant women.

This work forms part of a wider Defra led review of the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 conducted under the Food Compositional Standards and Labelling (FCSL) UK Common Framework, working collaboratively with the devolved Governments and Department of Health and Social Care. 

It included a UK-wide public consultation with the proposals also notified to the World Trade Organisation, fulfilling international obligations.   

The key changes include: 

• Technical amendments to clarify requirements and definitions, to ensure consistency with other food standards legislation including increasing minimum levels of nutrients and updating specification criteria, enabling understanding and compliance.  
• Update to the compositional rules of wholemeal flour, removing barriers to compliance while maintaining consumer protection.  
• An exemption from fortification requirements for small-scale millers (producing less than 500 metric tonnes of flour per annum). This removes disproportionate burden on smaller scale producers without compromising the public health outcomes of the policy.  
• Introducing the use of improvement notices in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a more proportionate and efficient way to address non-compliance and reduces risk of excessive costs associated with court time when criminal proceedings are brought. In Scotland equivalent measures in the form of compliance notices have already been introduced. 

Food Standards Scotland and the Scottish Government will continue to engage with the food industry to support them to implement the changes, which will apply to the whole of the UK. Legislation has been laid in England and Northern Ireland, and Wales intend to lay similar legislation soon.. 

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Ministers have long advocated for the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid to help prevent foetal neural tube defects such as spina bifida – so I am glad to be able to introduce new legislation to help give babies the best start in life. It is also vital that women who are planning a pregnancy or are newly pregnant continue to take a folic acid supplement.

“We have closely collaborated with Food Standards Scotland, the UK Government and other devolved Governments to introduce a measure which strengthens public health. We will continue to engage with the industry on implementation to ensure the best outcomes.”

Lawrence Cowan, Chief Executive of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland said: “We welcome the announcement by the Scottish Government today that folic acid will be added to flour from 2026 onwards. Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland has campaigned for folic acid fortification for over 30 years, and this decision will have a life-changing effect for many future parents and children across Scotland. 

“Adding folic acid to flour will give women and their unborn children the best possible opportunities to be healthy. Folic acid fortification has proven effective in other countries, and in the UK this measure could prevent around 200 pregnancies affected by neural tube defects. It is important that we keep to the proposed timeline for introducing this legislation to ensure that we can have the broadest impact on families in Scotland.

“This is a momentous moment, and we will continue to work in partnership with the Scottish Government, Food Standards Scotland and other relevant bodies.”

It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. The new flour regulations will help provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid, before and during pregnancy. 

However, it is important to note that the NHS still recommends women who are trying to get pregnant or newly pregnant to continue to regularly take the recommended dose of folic acid supplements.

All women who are trying for a baby should regularly take folic acid supplements for around three months before getting pregnant, and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant.  These are readily available through pharmacies or supermarkets. The fortification of flour is intended to support, not replace, this advice.

On 1 January, The Health and Safety Executive celebrated its 50^th Anniversary.

Created by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was officially launched on 1^st January 1975.

For the last 50 years it has played a central role in reducing workplace death and injury, helping Great Britain become one of the safest places in the world to work. In 1974, 651 employees were killed at work; HSE’s latest annual statistics for 2023/24 show that number had reduced to 138.

Sarah Albon, chief executive of HSE, has said that despite the transformation of Britain’s workplaces over the past half century, the mission of the regulator remains as relevant as ever.

Sarah said: “Over the past half century, the Health and Safety Executive has led the way in establishing Great Britain as a safe place to work. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we recognise there is still much for HSE to take on.

“We’re proud of our successes over the last five decades, but the fact remains that any work-related death is a tragedy, and there are still far too many workers suffering ill-health brought about by work activity.

“In 2022, we launched our 10-year strategy, Protecting People and Places, to build on HSE’s strong foundations and address our current and future challenges.

“So today, HSE’s role goes beyond worker protection to include public safety assurance on a range of issues. Recent years have added new responsibilities, such as becoming the appointed Building Safety Regulator and playing an extended role in chemical regulation, post Brexit.

“It is hard to foresee what the world of work will look like in the next 50 years but as ever, our fundamental principle will continue to be to make sure that those who create risk, take responsibility for controlling risk, and those who fail to do so will be held to account.

“We will continue to work with businesses, with industry, with other regulators and with government, to enable strong economic growth, while we continue to deliver our founding principles as we work to protect people and places.”

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS

REHIS woven into the fabric of Public Health in Scotland

As part of the 150-year celebrations, the Institute has designed a colourful tartan that cleverly uses the Institute’s history as inspiration. Created by Tartan Caledonia, the design incorporates the colours of the official REHIS crest and boasts thread counts that mark the year of our inception, 1875: 18 for green, 7 for black and 5 for yellow. The main central design (in blue and red) adds up to 150 threads.

The Institute was established after the merger of the Sanitary Association of Scotland (founded on 20 January 1875) and the Scottish Institute of Environmental Health, set up in 1973. The two organisations merged in 1983 to form The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, often referred as REHIS.  In 2001, the Queen signs the seal for the Institute to be incorporated by Royal Charter.

The vibrant design was registered on the Scottish Tartan Register, on 20 January 2025 as a permanent reminder of the vital work of REHIS, a very special tartan reflecting our long history.

The Scottish Government have launched a public consultation how best to further regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures (NSCP) to improve client safety.

Independent healthcare clinics in Scotland are already regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, but the sector across the UK is not fully regulated.

The number of procedures which pierce and penetrate the skin is increasing and the Scottish Government is considering what requirements can be put in place to reduce the potential for harm from riskier procedures.

The new consultation builds on a previous one in 2020 and puts forward more detailed proposals for what that further regulation could look like.

It is propose that private NSCPs should take place in either:

• an independent clinic, or other healthcare setting regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)
• a premises which is licensed by the local authority

The Scottish Government propose that wherever procedures take place they should be carried out by a suitably trained and qualified practitioner or by an appropriate healthcare professional.

It is not believed that all procedures are appropriate in all settings. As such it is proposed to divide procedures into three groups based on factors such as how invasive they are, the level of risk and the level of medical knowledge or training required to conduct the procedures safely.

The Groups proposed are:

• Group 1 will contain those procedures which carry the lowest level of risk, are the least invasive, and which we believe can be safely carried out by a trained practitioner who is not a healthcare professional

It is proposed that Group 1 procedures should be undertaken in either a licensed premises or a HIS regulated setting.

• Group 2 will contain procedures which carry a higher level of risk, and are more invasive than those in Group 1.

It is proposed that Group 2 procedures should only be undertaken in a HIS regulated premises. We propose they could be safely carried out by a trained practitioner who is not a healthcare professional, but that such practitioners should be supervised by an appropriate healthcare professional.

• Group 3 will contain the procedures which carry the highest levels of risk and which are more invasive than Group 1 or 2 procedures.

It is proposed that as well as being undertaken in a HIS regulated premises that these procedures should always be undertaken by an appropriate healthcare professional.

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said:

“It is distressing to hear of cases where people have suffered as a result of non-surgical cosmetic procedures going wrong. 

“The current gaps in regulation means that anyone can perform most of these procedures without the need for any formal training or qualifications and this consultation aims to gather a wide range of views on how best to address this.

“We want to make sure procedures are carried out by appropriately qualified and skilled practitioners so that clients have peace of mind. We are aware of the potential impact on businesses and we are working with a range of stakeholders to make sure we get those details right. 

“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that robust and proportionate regulation is introduced to ensure that people who choose to have these procedures, can do so with the confidence they will be safe so please let us know your views.”

Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, Professor David Sines CBE said:

“I warmly welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to consult on this new, proposed scheme of regulation and licensing.

“In my opinion the proposals included in this consultation document will dramatically improve consumer safety and reduce the risk of injury and harm arising from improperly performed cosmetic treatments. Nothing is more important than public protection and patient safety.

“I would urge everybody to support this move towards sensible and proportionate regulation in this important sector.”

Read the consultation paper here Regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures – Scottish Government consultations – Citizen Space which closes 14 February.

The Institute is delighted to learn that Ruth Robertson, a long standing REHIS Chartered Environmental Health Officer member and former Head of Programme, Health Protection, NHS Education for Scotland, has been awarded a Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Public Health and Health Protection in Scotland in the New Years Honours List.

In 2024, Ruth was the worthy recipient of the Institute’s Meritorious Endeavours in Environmental Health Award for the significant contribution she made to the improvement and protection of health and well-being in Scotland over many years through her career in public health and health protection.

Congratulations to Ruth and best wishes to her and to her family.

Lynn Crothers (L – REHIS Past President) with Ruth Robertson (R)

It is understood that publication of the draft of BS8233:2025 is imminent for release from British Standard Institution.

In preparation for the consultation the Scottish Institute of Acoustics are providing an open forum to discuss.

See below for more information regarding this meeting:

Scottish Institute of Acoustics: Deeper dive into the proposals to update BS 8233 

Thursday 9 January 2025

14:00 – 16:30 GMT.

Online only

This deeper dive into the proposals is intended to help you inform a response to consultation, which ends on 31st January. We’ll be assuming some prior knowledge of the principles of the proposals (see recording of 30th September webinar; download our IOA Conference paper). In this extended session we’ll be going into more detail.

For residential design:

• WHO 1999 Guidelines – where did they come from? WHO 2018 vs WHO1999
• Is external noise just a proxy? If we meet internal level guidelines, is the noise mitigated?
• L_max – we know it is important, but is a simplistic assessment valuable? What about the other dimensions of sleep?
• Overheating and noise – what is the supporting evidence, and how do we weave in a measure of the “overheating risk” into the noise assessment? 
• How does the proposed mitigation compare with current practice?

For non-domestic buildings:

• Increased guidance on sound insulation between spaces
• Proposals for sound absorption

Meet the speakers

Dr David Hiller, Chair of BS 8233 drafting committee. David is an Associate Director with Arup. He has 37 years experience in acoustics, noise and vibration, having previously been with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) for 12 years. David is currently Chair of Committee B/564, responsible for BS 5228 and BS 8233.

Jack Harvie-Clark, Founding Director at Apex Acoustics, has been working in acoustics since 2000, and researching noise and ventilation for dwellings since 2013. He was the instigator and a major author of the AVO Guide, and acoustic advisor to DLUHC for the acoustics in Approved Doc O.

Dr Benjamin Fenech, Noise lead at UKHA, acoustics specialist with a special interest in the non-auditory health effects of sound and noise. Since 2013 Ben has been responsible for leading the UK Health Security Agency and its predecessor organisation’s work programme on the non-auditory health effects of sound and noise. 

Registration: There is no need to register. Please join with the following Zoom link.

Institute of Acoustics is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84837095051?pwd=4sC3SHgPa7dJa6WEoP8SJaEEMUuR3g.1

Meeting ID: 848 3709 5051
Passcode: 478417

Actions aimed at ensuring households and businesses in Scotland boost reuse and recycling rates and cut waste have been published.

The Circular Economy and Waste Route Map sets out 11 priority areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated to support a transition to a circular economy – where resources are kept in use for as long as possible. 

These are:

* = Relates to provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

1. Publish a Product Stewardship Plan to set out how we will tackle the environmental impact of priority products by 2025/26
2. Develop an intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change by 2026/27
3. *Develop with stakeholders’ effective options to implement mandatory reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses from 2025/26
4. Support the development of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets from 2025-2027
5. *Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services, 2024 – 2026
6. Review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements, 2026
7. Co-design measures to improve commercial waste service provisions, commencing by 2030
8. Develop a Residual Waste Plan to 2045, by 2027
9. Facilitate the development of a Sector-Led Plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the energy from waste sector, by 2027
10. *Develop a circular economy strategy every five years, with first one published in 2026
11. *Set new circular economy targets by 2027

The Route Map is the product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of support for the proposals.

The overall recycling rate in Scotland is at its highest level since records began in 2011, and the actions in the Route Map complement provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, which was passed unanimously by MSPs in June.  

Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin launched the Route Map at a visit to Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, which upcycles discarded wooden furniture into new items.

She said: “Reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to play in Scotland’s response to tackling the climate crisis. 

“We must make the circular option, where we value materials and keep them in use for as long as possible, either in their original form or recycled, an easier choice for Scottish households, businesses and the public sector.

“The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to help make this a reality and I want to thank all those who have contributed to its development.

“There have been consistently high levels of support for its actions, which promote and support responsible production and consumption, along with the sustainable management of Scotland’s resources – and the final route map will be key to supporting the Scottish Government’s net zero and economic growth goals.”

Helene van der Ploeg, CEO of the Grassmarket Community Project said: “We pride ourselves on our initiatives to repurpose, recycle and reuse through our wood workshop, and Tartan shop. Old furniture, church pews and fallen trees are donated and re-worked into beautiful pieces of furniture or small household items. Leftover tartan from weavers, and donated fabric scraps are handcrafted into beautiful gifts.

“These materials, once considered waste and destined for landfill, are now valuable contributors to the circular economy. Thanks to generous donations, we’re recycling these materials, giving them new purpose, and creating timeless treasures that will be passed down through generations.

“Along the way, we generate income, provide essential skills training for our members (beneficiaries) and volunteers, all of which embodies and reinforces the values of the Route Map and our commitment to the circular economy.”

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued a warning this Christmas about unauthorised additives in imported American snacks, sweets and fizzy drinks. These products, popularised by social media influencers on platforms like TikTok, are flooding UK high streets, posing serious health risks to children.

As Christmas approaches, American confectionery has become a must-have stocking filler, with children and teenagers driving demand. These brightly coloured sweets, snacks and drinks are heavily promoted by social media influencers on platforms like TikTok, where viral videos showcase ‘candy hauls’ and taste tests of imported products. The trend has grown in popularity in recent years, making these items a symbol of festive indulgence among younger audiences.

Convenience stores and high-street retailers have capitalised on this growing popularity, stocking these products in record numbers to meet seasonal demand. However, the allure of American candy often masks serious risks. Many of these imported products fail to meet UK safety and legal standards, lacking proper allergen declarations or containing unauthorised additives with known health risks.

Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team has been leading efforts to address the growing issue of unsafe American confectionery. During a recent pilot project funded by the Food Standards Agency, they seized 3,378 items valued at £8,500 from local shops. These products, often manufactured for foreign markets, contained unauthorised additives such as:

• Yellow 6 (E110): Found in corn-based snacks, linked to hyperactivity in children .
• Carrageenan: Used in jelly cups, posing a choking hazard for children. 
• EDTA: An additive prohibited in drinks, linked to developmental issues in animal studies.

The inspections revealed 89% failed to comply among shops, with common issues including:

• Products containing unauthorised additives. (1)
• Missing English labelling or allergen declarations. (2)
• Expired products still being sold. (3)

In addition to these findings, recent actions by Staffordshire’s Trading Standards team have uncovered further concerning statistics. Approximately 3,700 non-compliant products valued at £10,300 were confiscated during inspections, including:

• 1,750 cans/bottles of drinks containing EDTA.
• 1,545 packets of crisps containing Yellow 6 (E110).
• 400 packets of sweets containing mineral oil, bleached flour, or carrageenan.

These inspections also highlighted a 25% failure to comply rate in stores where American confectionery was identified and subsequently removed from shelves. These products, often referred to as ‘grey market goods’, are manufactured for foreign markets and fail to comply with UK food safety standards.

Operation Tootsie, an earlier Trading Standards initiative, further emphasised the scope of the problem, revealing a 77% failure rate among products purchased from national retailers and an even higher 91% failure rate among importers.

Dean Cooke, CTSI Lead Officer for Food, explained:

“Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets, with influencers on platforms like TikTok showcasing these colourful products in ways that appeal to children and teenagers. While this drives seasonal sales, it also creates a dangerous market for items that fail to meet UK safety standards. Retailers must take responsibility to ensure compliance, and parents need to be vigilant in checking labels to protect their children from potential harm.

“Importers, by law, have to re-label products with a UK/GB address. If there is any problem with the food, customers and Trading Standards may need to contact a legally responsible person in this country. If food does not have a UK/GB address on the label, we would advise for them not to buy it.”

Councillor Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, added:

“Our Trading Standards team works tirelessly to ensure that food sold in Staffordshire complies with safety standards. During this pilot project, we were alarmed to find over 3,300 unsafe items on sale, many of which contained unauthorised ingredients and were targeted at children. These items are often poorly labelled and can contain harmful additives, posing serious public health concerns. Parents need to stay alert and avoid products with unclear labelling, especially during the festive season.”

Consumers are urged to scrutinise labels for compliance. Items labelled with American weight measurements (ounces, fluid ounces) are likely imports. These products must adhere to UK food safety standards, including accurate allergen labelling and exclusion of unauthorised additives.

Trading Standards continue to tackle this growing issue through targeted operations, including working with national retailers and wholesalers. Anyone unsure about the safety of products in England and Wales can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. You can get consumer advice applying to Northern Ireland by calling Consumerline on 0300 123 6262. Consumers In Scotland should contact Consumer Advice Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000.

Salford City Council Trading Standards have produced some really useful resources to help explain the issues with clear examples of what to look out for:

Consumer Advice leaflet

Business Advice Leaflet

Global Action Plan, organisers of Clean Air Day, have announced the return of Clean Air Night, the first of which took place in January of this year. 

Taking place on Wednesday 22nd January 2025, this year’s event will focus on the health damage caused by domestic wood burning.

The campaign takes a three-pronged attack on the subject:

1. Wood burning harms your wallet
2. Wood burning harms your health
3. Wood burning harms the planet

The report takes aim at the current implementation of Smoke Control areas (SCAs) which, it claims is fundamentally flawed.  Changes proposed include extended them to cover the whole of the UK – with exemptions for home with no alternative source of heating – toughening their scope to cover Ecodesign stoves and giving local authorities greater powers to enforce them.

Other measures suggested by the report are: 

• A public information campaign to increase understanding about the health harms of wood/solid fuel burning stoves and open fires.
• Increased regulation of the advertising of both wood burning stoves and fuel.
• Increased powers to enable local authorities to tackle the air pollution produced by domestic burning in a way they deem to be most appropriate for their local area

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan said: ‘Domestic burning is the biggest source of small particle air pollution in the UK and can cause significant harm to everyone’s health. Over the next five years, the government’s strategy needs to evolve from encouraging people to ‘burn better’ to phasing out this source of harmful air pollution, starting with those homes – most typically, but not exclusively, in our towns and cities – where a fire is a secondary and therefore unnecessary heating source. The report we are sharing today sets out a policy pathway to curb this growing pollution problem and protect public health and the planet, a journey that must start now.’

Read Action for Clean Air: evidence and resources on domestic burning here.

University of Birmingham researchers have found that biomass burning contributes significantly to fine particulate matter levels in the region.

The researchers found that biomass burning, primarily from woodburning activities, such as heating homes using woodburning stoves or logs on open fires, contributes significantly to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) levels in the region – accounting for some 20% of the total PM_2.5 mass.

Publishing their findings in Atmospheric Environment, the researchers call for targeted measures to mitigate health risks associated with PM_2.5 emissions from woodburning activities.

The experts found woodburning-related PM_2.5 concentrations seven times higher than those observed in 2008-2010. They also discovered that the impact of woodburning is particularly pronounced during winter months, contributing up to around half of PM_2.5 concentrations – a seasonal spike attributed to people heating their homes.

Lead author Dr Deepchandra Srivastava commented: “Our study highlights the significant increase in woodburning activity in the past 10 years, making it one of the most important sources of air pollution in the West Midlands.”

Lead investigator of the study, Professor Zongbo Shi commented: “We need to see immediate and coordinated actions at local and national levels to reduce wood burning, improve air quality – including enhancement and enforcement of smoke control areas to curb emissions from woodburning stoves and open fires. This has great potential to reduce PM_2.5-related health risks and decrease mortality in the region.”

The experts also recommend raising public awareness about the health impacts of woodburning and promoting best practices, such as burning only dry, seasoned wood and maintaining stoves properly, as crucial steps in reducing pollution.

Researchers are also calling for local regulations to be strengthened to promote the use of cleaner alternatives, such as electric heating or heat pumps. They say that, to further improve air quality in the West Midlands, wider national and international policy interventions are also needed to address regional and transboundary PM_2.5-related exposure.

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan said: “Lighting fires in our homes is now the largest source of toxic fine particle air pollution in the UK, presenting a range of serious health risks including heart and lung disease, diabetes, and dementia.

“Despite growing evidence of the UK’s burning problem – like this new research from the University of Birmingham – many people are still unaware that wood burning is harming our health and the planet.

“While many work to communicate these harms through moments such as Clean Air Night, we need urgent action from central government to share these harms with people across the UK and empower local authorities to tackle this growing source of air pollution in ways that are appropriate for their local communities. Join people across the country in learning the facts about wood burning this Clean Air Night (22 January 2025).”

This research was conducted as part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-funded West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme (WM-Air), led by Professor William Bloss. Researchers analysed PM_2.5 samples collected in 2021 and 2022 at two urban background sites in Birmingham, utilizing advanced receptor modelling techniques to identify and quantify pollution sources.

UK Government have published United Kingdom Food Security Report report covering food safety in the supply chain. . There are five themes, including one on food safety and consumer confidence.

The data provide some insight into the safety of the UK food chain, consumer confidence and public trust in the UK food system. These insights help regulators, enforcement authorities and wider government to understand the agency of the consumer, and their ability to access and utilise food, which are important factors to consider in the UKFSR’s assessment of food security.

The overall findings are:

The results of UK consumer surveys indicate that the levels of trust in the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have remained relatively high. Of the consumers surveyed by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, a majority report that they trust them to do their job. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reported levels of trust in the FSA ranged from 69% to 78% between July 2020 and July 2023. In Scotland, reported levels of trust ranged from 71% to 81% between December 2020 and December 2023.

he number of people reporting concerns about food prices has risen since 2021. In 2023, food prices became the top food-related prompted concern among UK consumers. 93% of respondents surveyed in Scotland were concerned about the cost of food and 72% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Due to differences in data collection, survey results from England, Wales and Northern Ireland cannot be compared with those from Scotland.

Approximately a quarter of all incidents reported over the last 3 years involved the identification of microorganisms. Approximately 26% of all incidents reported over the last 3 years related to the identification of microorganisms that have the potential to cause illness (such as Shiga toxin-producing E.coli, Listeria and Salmonella); and required action to be taken by authorities and food businesses to protect consumers.

There have generally remained relatively stable trends in laboratory-confirmed reports of pathogens that can cause foodborne gastrointestinal disease
Campylobacter spp. continued to be the most frequently reported bacterial pathogen causing infectious gastrointestinal disease in the UK, followed by non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. The proportional trends in causative agents, hospitalisation rates and associated foods implicated in the investigations were generally consistent with trends observed in the last decade with the exception of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) and other diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) in 2023.

Of the businesses inspected, analysis indicates an upward trend in food business hygiene compliance. An average of 92.3% of inspected businesses in Scotland achieved a ‘Pass’ under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) between 2020/21 and 2023/24. However, there is still a backlog in the number of businesses awaiting inspection.