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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have published a scientific opinion, which shows many of the most commonly farmed and consumed fish in the EU/EFTA show no evidence of parasites that can infect humans. However, parasites were found in some farmed species and more data is needed to determine how prevalent certain parasites are in farmed fish.  

Although limited, available scientific data from the EU/EFTA area, indicates that many species of farmed fish intended for the market are free from zoonotic parasite infection. These include Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, turbot, meagre, Atlantic halibut, carp, and European catfish.  

However, in European seabass, Atlantic bluefin tuna, cod, and/or tench produced in open offshore cages or flow-through ponds parasites like Anisakis and others were found

Fish produced in closed recirculating aquaculture systems with filtered water intake and heat-treated feed are almost certainly free of zoonotic parasites.  

EFSA’s experts concluded that more data is needed to estimate the prevalence of specific parasites in selected fish species, farming systems, and production areas within the EU/EFTA region. This would provide a comprehensive picture of the various combinations of main farmed fish species and relevant parasites. 

Experts assessed new methods for detecting zoonotic parasites in fishery products. These include UV-scanning, optical, molecular and OMICs methodologies.  

They also assessed methods for the inactivation of these parasites. Freezing and heating remain the most efficient ways to kill them. Ongoing research is also exploring the effectiveness of various processing techniques, such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, air drying, dry-salting, double salting, and use of natural products.  

EFSA’s experts will determine by the year’s end whether any wild fish species from specific fishing areas pose a risk to public health due to the presence of zoonotic parasites.  

An international group of experts are asking for mandatory indoor air quality standards, for spaces in which people spend a significant proportion of their time.

In a paper published by the journal Science, Professor Lidia Morawska, Vice-Chancellor Fellow at the University of Surrey, along with a team of over 40 air quality specialists from around the world, has recommended setting standards for ventilation rate and three key indoor pollutants: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and PM2.5.

Professor Morawska said: ‘Most countries do not have any legislated indoor air quality performance standards for public spaces that address concentration levels of indoor air pollutants.

‘To have practical value, indoor air quality standards must be implementable by designing new buildings that are built, operated and maintained to standard or retrofitted to meet the standards.

‘While there is a cost in the short term, the social and economic benefits to public health, wellbeing and productivity will likely far outweigh the investment in cost in achieving clean indoor air.’

The paper identifies five challenges that need to be addressed: 

Source contributions: Indoor air quality is affected by sources indoors and out. Significantly, indoor air is affected by humans breathing – the cause of most respiratory infections and controlling respiration is not as  simple as addressing other sources.

Monitoring: Methods used to measure outdoor air quality – monitoring networks and modeling – cannot  be applied to indoor air quality and significantly, there is no way to monitor indoor pathogens in real time.

Legislation: Guidelines and Standards are insufficient unless they are adopted in legislation but even then challenges exist in terms of monitoring and enforcement. 

Industry priorities: An example cited here is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, which focusses primarily on thermal comfort and energy efficiency, which is what the public are demanding. Any legislative changes will likely haver a financial impact on industry, so they will tend to resist it. 

The social and political dimension: Introducing standards is complex for a variety of reasons, not least because of issues of local attitudes, custom and the potential cost involved.  

Recognising that enforcement of indoor air quality standards in homes is unfeasible, the report suggests that standards be mandatory for public spaces while homes are designed and equipped to meet those standards, with ventilation a key.

Professor Morawska said: ‘The technologies for measuring ventilation already exist in most modern mechanically ventilated buildings but monitoring ventilation rates in terms of clean air delivered to the space requires us to consider the number of people and their activities in the space to ensure adequate IAQ.

‘A practical ventilation standard could be air from outside (assumed to be clean), or clean recirculated air to the entire occupied zone and with airflow not directed from one person to another.

‘Additional measures in support of ventilation, such as air cleaning and disinfection, could greatly reduce the need to increase the outdoor air supply, which carries a heavy energy demand.

‘Filtering recirculated air is an effective way to reduce concentration of, and thus our exposure to, airborne particulate matter, allergens and pathogens.’

Focus should be on pollutants which can be monitored easily and cheaply, specifically PM2.5, CO2 and CO.

Professor Morawska again: ‘CO2 can serve as a proxy for occupant-emitted contaminants and pathogens and to effectively assess ventilation quality,” she said.

‘We propose a CO2 concentration level of 800ppm with the proviso that outdoor concentration is used as a baseline and recognition of the fact that outdoor concentrations are increasing due to emissions to the atmosphere that outweigh removal.

‘Another key indicator of air quality we addressed is the amount of PM2.5 and we propose the WHO air quality guidelines as a basis for indoor air quality standards but with a 1-hour averaging time, as the 24 hours of the WHO AQG is much longer than people usually spend in public places.’

The paper ‘Indoor air quality standards in public buildings’ is published in Science.

The European Commission (EC) has published proposed amendments to its regulations for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. This is in an effort to align EU rules with Codex Alimentarius standards. If adopted, the new regulations would go into effect after January 1, 2026. The draft act is open for public comment until May 8, 2024.

The draft regulations would amend Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005, which sets the criteria for certain microbial contaminants in food and implements hygiene requirements for food producers.

At present, Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 states that, with the exception of foods intended for infants and special medical purposes, L. monocytogenes cannot be detected in 25 g of RTE foods (that are able to support pathogen growth over time to eventually exceed 100 cfu/g) before such products leave the production facility. However, Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 does not provide that the same criterion applies to these foods once they have left the immediate control of the producing food business operator.

The EC is proposing amendments to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 to guarantee the same level of public health protection from production to distribution for RTE foods (other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes) that are able to support the growth of L. monocytogenes. The proposed amendments would apply the criterion “L. monocytogenes not detected in 25 g” to all situations where covered RTE foods are placed on the market during their shelf-life and for which the producing food business operator has not been able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the competent authority, that the level of L. monocytogenes will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout the food’s shelf life.

The amendment is in light of the fact that that the number of human listeriosis cases in the EU rose by 15.9 percent from 2021 to 2022, and because 2022 saw one of the highest fatality rates associated with foodborne listeriosis, EU regulators determined it necessary to update the food safety criteria for L. monocytogenes to protect public health.

Food Standards Scotland and Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee have created a guidance document for food standards for Butchers.

The guidance provides information on the legal references, as well as illustrations of labelling to ensure compliance. The guide will assist businesses as well as enforcement officers. It should provide clarity and a source for reference in the vent of differences of opinion as to how labelling etc. should be formatted.

The guidance can be access here.

The Scottish Parliament has voted to continue and increase the minimum unit price for alcohol by 15p to 65p per unit and will take effect from 30 September 2024.

This concludes a lengthy process which included a robust and independent evaluation by Public Health Scotland, further public consultation and intense parliamentary scrutiny.

Research conducted by Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow estimated that MUP had reduced alcohol-attributable deaths by 13.4% – 156 a year – and was likely to have reduced hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol by 4.1% up to the end of 2020 compared to what would have happened if MUP had not been in place.

Public health experts wrote an open letter to The Lancet last August commending Public Health Scotland’s evaluation of minimum unit pricing commenting that it was “high quality” and “comprehensive”.  

As part of a review of the level of minimum unit price, the Scottish Government commissioned the University of Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, who are experts in this field, to undertake new modelling. Putting their analysis in the context of current prices, this estimated that continuing and raising MUP to 65p could avert an additional 60 deaths and 774 fewer hospital admissions in the first year, compared to the price remaining constant in real terms.

Public attitudes research published in September 2023 found that overall more people were likely to be in favour of MUP (43%) than against it (38%) – in line with previous Scottish Social Attitudes Survey findings on MUP at intervals between 2013-2019.

PHS evaluation found there was no clear evidence of substantial negative impacts on the alcoholic drinks industry.

As part of a ‘sunset clause’ when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018, it had been due to end on 30 April, however today’s vote by MSPs ensures its continuation.

In addition, a price increase was required to counteract the effects of inflation, with a rise to 65p selected as the Scottish Government seeks to increase the positive effects of the policy.

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christina McKelvie said:

“I’m pleased that Parliament has agreed to continue MUP legislation and to raise the level it is set at.

“Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities.

“Despite this progress, deaths caused specifically by alcohol rose last year – and my sympathy goes out to all those who have lost a loved one. However, as a letter to The Lancet by public health experts makes clear, it is likely that without MUP there would have been an even greater number of alcohol-specific deaths.

“As we have made clear, the policy aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by reducing consumption at population level, with a particular focus on targeting people who drink at hazardous and harmful levels. 

“We believe the proposals strike a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and impact on consumers. Evidence suggests there has not been a significant impact on business and industry as a whole but we will continue to monitor this.”

A consultation on the implementation of the ban and draft impact assessments, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government, along with the UK Government and the Welsh Government, are proposing to introduce a prohibition on the sale and supply of single-use vapes (hereafter referred to as a ban on single-use vapes).

The Scottish Government have gathered views on their approach to this legislation through the consultation on Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping which ran from October to December 2023. Read the government response to this consultation.

They also held a two-week technical consultation from 23 February 2024 to 8 March 2024 on the draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 that would give effect to a ban. Following that consultation the Scottish Government have made updates to the definition of a single-use vape and enforcement powers. The finalised Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 are published alongside this consultation.

The consultation is open until Tuesday 14 May and can be viewed here.

The following have also been published: 

An interim Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment

Stage 1 Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

Interim Stage 2 Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

Interim partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment

Interim Equality Impact Assessment

An Island Communities Impact Screening Assessment

A strategic environmental assessment report

The Institute became aware very recently of the University of West of Scotland’s (UWS) decision not to accept first year entrants (2024/25) to the BSc Hons in Environmental Health with Professional Practice course.

In light of this concerning news, the Institute requested an urgent meeting with the University which was held on Tuesday 5 March where unfortunately the University confirmed their decision.  The Institute is extremely disappointed with this and understand that the University are reviewing the current structure of the course.  The University will continue to accept entrants to second year and are committed to supporting all students who are enrolled on the course. 

The Institute has given a commitment to work with UWS and other partners on this critical issue. We will endeavour to keep all members updated with progress on this.

Annual Environmental Health Forum

This year’s Annual Environmental Health Forum under the theme ‘Resilience; Professional, Local and National Perspectives’ comprises of a full day session on Wednesday 24 April 2024 is being delivered in hybrid format at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

We have an excellent line up of acclaimed speakers from key organisations including John Beresford from Scottish Government Resilience Division; Dr Elizabeth Lawson from Newcastle University speaking about rural and island community led projects; Dr Michelle Gillies of Public Health Scotland speaking on the effect of climate change on population health and Dr Ria Dunkley, University of Glasgow presenting the GALLANT project, plus lots more!

To book a place, please follow this link Annual Forum – REHIS

Community Training

The Institute held a very successful first ever Scottish Certificate for Personal License Holders (SCPLH) Presenters update on Tuesday 19 March, with most of our Licensing centres in attendance.  For anyone interested in becoming an approved training centre to offer Licensing courses, please contact the Director of Training by email contact@

DIARY DATES – Professional Courses

The Institute is busy organising the professional courses for the year, the details of which will all appear on the website, under Professional Development and Events. Dates for your diary so far include:

• Pollution Update 22 May 2024
• Food Update 5 June 2024
• Health and Safety Update 4 September 2024
• Environmental Health Update 22 November 2024
• Environmental Public Health and Housing Update 27 November 2024

CPD

A huge thank you to all those who have submitted CPD, most of which were now administered through the online system of the website.  The list of EHOs holding Chartered EHO status will appear in a Journal later in the year.

Our President, Lynn Crothers and Past President, David Duffy were delighted to attend a very successful event at the Scottish Parliament recently to mark 50 years of ASH Scotland.  The parliamentary reception was hosted by Jackie Baillie, MSP and the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Grey addressed the members along with ASH CEO, Sheila Duffy. Students from Larbert High gave a thoughtful talk about being part of a tobacco free generation. 
 
Lynn and David were delighted to represent the Institute where they were able to share the long-standing relationship the Environmental Health profession has with ASH Scotland.
 
Lynn Crothers also represented the Institute the following day at learning event hosted by ASH Scotland on how the tobacco industry is shifting the focus from cigarettes to other products including vapes.  She participated in an enforcement workshop where they discussed the price of e-cigarettes, how discounts and bundle deals are attracting people during a cost-of-living crisis, and how they’re capturing the attention of young people in particular with prices that suit their pocket money budget.

Food Standards Scotland is urging farmers to be aware of the causes of on-farm poisoning as herds go out to pasture.

Around 675 livestock in Scotland have been restricted from the food supply chain due to lead or copper poisoning in the past four years, including over 70 deaths. Farmers can help prevent this happening by following these five steps:

1. Check that vehicle and fence batteries are stored securely and out of reach of animals
2. Check fields and fences for fly-tipping before putting animals out to pasture
3. Check buildings and equipment for old lead paint peeling off
4. Check what feed sheep have access to. Some concentrates and minerals are for cattle only
5. Check supplements are right for your sheep as breeds such as Texel, Suffolk and North Ronaldsay are more susceptible to copper poisoning.

Find out more about preventing on-farm poisoning at: https://bit.ly/3Vp7HmM

A study has identified approaches to food safety inspections across five countries are similar however personal preferences could be responsible for some of the differences.

Research identified how environmental health practitioners from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ireland perform food safety inspections. Data was collected via an online survey disseminated by environmental health professional bodies.

A total of 267 respondents were asked questions relating to common components, important aspects, influential factors and methods employed when doing food safety inspections. Over a third of participants reported having more than 20 years of experience undertaking such inspections. 

The Flinders University and La Trobe University study, published in the journal Food Control, found food safety inspections are performed similarly across different countries but the personal preferences of inspectors may be responsible for some variations in approach.

Jason Barnes, a public health lecturer at La Trobe University, said: “While there were differences in the laws, cultural and individual approach of inspectors between jurisdictions there was a high level of uniformity which can form the baseline for future standardization or regulation changes to conduct even better food inspections.”

While legislation provides broad expectations of how a food safety inspection program is to be delivered, there is less information on the different methods and processes.

The lack of guidance and standardization around the process of food safety inspections results in inspectors implementing checks based on their own interpretation and perspective on what is best practice. This could lead to a disparity in how inspections are performed between jurisdictions and between inspectors.

Respondents were asked how regularly they take various steps and use various sources of information when performing a food safety inspection. 

Prior to conducting an inspection, it was usual to review previous inspection records, menus and details of foods produced by the business, and prepare notes and reminders. The main methods for recording information included the use of checklists and photographs. Less common methods involved materials that facilitate note taking and video and audio recording.

Inspection reports include a list of non-compliances observed during the visit. These are regularly accompanied by an explanation of why items have been deemed non-compliant, a timeframe for resolution, specification of a state that must be met to achieve compliance and instructions on how non-compliances may be rectified. Results were often communicated to the business both via a written inspection report and verbally at the end of a visit.

There are some areas of divergence from the common inspection approach. While many of these emerged between countries, others were attributed to individual differences between inspectors.

Factors such as cognition, emotion and habits, in addition to training and experience, may contribute to variances between inspectors and how they perform inspections, found the study.

Co-author Professor Kirstin Ross, from Flinders University’s environmental health research group, said there are limits to the formal guidelines on the best way to perform inspections.

“Although food safety inspections can be the bane of business owners’ lives, we know that regular and thorough inspections are necessary. Foodborne illnesses not only cause several days of discomfort but can prove very debilitating or even fatal for more vulnerable members of the community,” she said.

“Our research will now investigate what best-practice food safety inspections might look like and provide guidelines for EHPs and support health authorities to implement these changes.”

Suggested areas for future research included examining whether data gathered and analyzed by inspectors during inspections is adequate to identify the risk of foodborne illness presented by a business and to give rise to effective intervention measures as well as analyzing impacts from variances between individual inspectors in their approaches to performing inspections.

A new technology called Littercam turns normal CCTV cameras into ones capable of identifying littering.

It’s one of the most common crimes in the UK and although it’s a nationwide problem and the vast majority of offenders go unidentified.

Now, local authorities are turning to AI to help with the crisis. A new technology called Littercam, which is being trialled by eight councils across the UK, turns ordinary CCTV cameras into ones capable of identifying littering.

The software is designed to spot pieces of rubbish being thrown from a car, picking up even the small bits of waste.

It analyses CCTV footage, registers the car’s number plate in the case of a littering offence, and councils can then contact the DVLA to help with the potential issuing of fines.

Andrew Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Littercam, says: “There’s a large section of society who don’t believe there’s any deterrent, that they’re not going to be caught. 

“They can simply get away with it. But this technology will hopefully give local authorities the powers to do that.”

Littercam technology has specifically been designed with common litter types in mind. 

An estimated two million pieces of litter a day are dropped in the UK and among them the most commonly littered items are cigarette butts, which make up 66% of all the littered items dropped, but by volume drinks cans and bottles are the biggest issue, accounting for more than 70% of litter by volume.

Healthcare professionals, including members of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN), have raised concerns about the lack of regulation in the aesthetics industry, particularly in Scotland.

BACN Honorary Members, Jackie Partridge and Francis Turner Traill, spoke to BBC Journalist Georgina Hayes to warn that unqualified individuals are administering cosmetic treatments like dermal fillers, leading to potential harm for consumers.

Unlike other countries, the UK lacks stringent regulations limiting such procedures to trained healthcare professionals. Furthermore, Scotland has yet to implement a ban on under-18s receiving these treatments, unlike England where such a ban is in place since 2021.

The absence of regulations has led to an influx of unqualified practitioners advertising on social media platforms, with nearly 90% of patients finding their practitioners through these channels. This situation has contributed to a rise in complications associated with cosmetic procedures, including infections, necrosis, and blindness. Additionally, the prevalence of unlicensed and counterfeit products, such as Botox, poses further risks to patient safety.

Despite calls for action to the Scottish government to ensure that cosmetic treatments are performed by trained professionals, no concrete steps have been taken. This lack of regulation has prompted concerns about patient safety and the need for stricter oversight in the industry.

In response to these concerns, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has emphasized the importance of treatments being provided by regulated providers and trained healthcare professionals. The Scottish government acknowledges the need for future regulation but has not provided specific timelines or details on potential measures. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto has stated that all options are being considered, including age restrictions and training requirements, to ensure the safety of individuals seeking cosmetic treatments in Scotland.

Read the full BBC article here