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The UK Government has launched a nationwide consultation on domestic wood and solid fuel burning, setting out proposals to reduce air pollution from stoves and fuels used in homes.

The consultation, which opened on 22nd January and will run until 19th March 2026, is being led by DEFRA in collaboration with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Any future policy changes will be developed jointly with the devolved administrations.

At the centre of the consultation are proposals to reduce emissions through:

• Stricter emission limits for new stoves – introducing tougher smoke emission standards for new appliances placed on the market. 
• Mandatory labelling for stoves and fuels – providing clear information on emissions, permitted fuels, and health impacts to help consumers make informed choices. 
• Increased enforcement penalties – raising penalties for suppliers who breach fuel standards to ensure compliance

One proposal would significantly tighten smoke emission limits for new solid fuel stoves coming onto the market. Current regulations allow appliances to emit up to 5 grams of smoke per hour, but the government is proposing to lower this to 1 gram per hour, plus a small allowance linked to heat output.

The proposed standard would not apply to existing stoves already installed in homes. To allow manufacturers time to adapt, the government suggests the new limits would come into force three to five years after legislation is passed. Regular retesting of stoves already on the market is also being considered to ensure ongoing compliance.

Alongside tighter limits, the government is proposing mandatory emissions labelling for new solid fuel appliances. The label would sit alongside existing energy efficiency ratings and include an A–C pollution scale, showing which fuels can be used, and a statement outlining the health impacts of domestic burning.

Suggestions include working such as ‘Please be aware that this appliance emits air pollution which can harm your health’ Suppliers in Great Britain would be required to display the label at the point of sale, while use in Northern Ireland would be voluntary.

The consultation also proposes mandatory health impact labelling on solid fuel packaging, such as wood and coal, in the hope that frequent exposure to health warnings at the point of purchase could reinforce awareness of the risks burning poses to households and neighbouring communities.

The government is also consulting on increasing penalties for suppliers who breach fuel regulations, such as selling wet wood or banned fuels. The current fixed penalty of £300 could rise to up to £2,000, with higher penalties for repeat offenders. This change would apply only in England, reflecting differences in devolved enforcement systems.

Pollution from burning in homes is one of the UK’s biggest sources of air pollution, contributing 20% of fine particles, about the same as all road transport. The fine particles are the most dangerous air pollutant for human health, the government said. Wood-burning stoves and fires in homes are linked to 2,500 early deaths a year in the UK, according to a recent study, as well as 3,700 cases of diabetes and 1,500 cases of asthma.

Scotland’s biggest mass litter picking event returns later this year and everyone can play their part in cleaning up Scotland. 

Over the years Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) have mobilised tens of thousands of volunteers to take part in #SpringCleanScotland but now they are looking for more than ever to get involved in 2026. 

This year’s Spring Clean takes place from 13 March – 24 April and the charity is calling for people from the Highlands to the Borders and everywhere in between to get involved. 

The Scottish Litter Survey, published in October 2025, revealed that 83% of people wanted more to be done to clean up and prevent litter. With KSB LEQ report highlighting seven in 10 sites having a litter presence across the country, Spring Clean is the perfect opportunity for people who want to see a difference to make a difference. 

Barry Fisher, KSB Chief Executive, said: “#SpringCleanScotland is the largest mass litter picking event in the country. If you are one of the 67% who agree litter makes you feel embarrassed about your own neighbourhood why not get involved? Choose a location and register your event. This is the perfect opportunity to get involved and take action. We want every community in Scotland to get involved, get active and make a difference to an issue that affects everyone.  

“Why not invite current or prospective MSPs along to join your clean-up and show them first-hand how much we need action to tackle this problem. 

“At the end of 2025 we published our latest Scottish Litter Survey which shows people’s attitudes towards litter. We know people are worried about the danger it causes to children and animals. We know it creates a bad impression of our country for tourists. 

“#SpringCleanScotland is your chance to take action. Join other like-minded people who care about keeping Scotland beautiful and let’s tackle our litter problem together.” 

Last year businesses, big and small across the country took part in Spring Clean and are once again being encouraged to get involved and organise litter picks, sponsor the event and support their communities and employees who are passionate about keeping Scotland beautiful. 

If you are inspired to take positive action, learn more, access tools and resources and sign up your event visit our #SpringCleanScotland page.

New regulations to protect tenants from damp and mould will be laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 will introduce new duties on landlords to investigate reports of damp and mould and start any repairs needed within a set timescale if approved by Parliament.

This is the first set of regulations for the implementation of Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his family’s housing association flat in England.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said:

“Everyone deserves to live in a home free from damp and mould. These regulations will help to ensure that’s the case by requiring any instances to be swiftly investigated by landlords and prompt action taken.

“In Scotland, while 90% of homes are free from damp and mould, we want to make sure everyone is protected. That’s why we are leading the way in rolling out these protections to both social and private tenants. We have worked closely with tenant groups, landlords and other stakeholders to develop regulations that protect tenants while being practical for landlords to implement.

“We will also be raising awareness of the importance of identifying and addressing damp and mould issues as quickly as possible.”

The Public Health Scotland Environmental Public Health Team have published a page on NHS Inform on drought: How to stay safe during a drought | NHS inform

The Public Health Scotland Environmental Public Health Team has been working on national communications to deliver on the PHS Adverse Weather and Health Plan and one of the channels used to do this is NHS Inform.

The links for the three other pages can be found below:  

• Cold – How to stay safe in cold weather | NHS inform
• Flooding – How to protect your health when flooding occurs | NHS inform
• Heat – How to stay safe in hot weather | NHS inform

Dear REHIS members,

Thank you to everyone for welcoming me as your new President, it is a tremendous honour, and I am truly grateful for your ongoing support of our professional Institute. Rest assured, I will continue to work diligently to benefit our Institute and all of our members.

Following the successful celebrations of REHIS’ 150th Anniversary in 2025, which highlighted our proud history and achievements, we now look forward to building on that legacy as we enter a new year of progress and opportunity. As we look ahead, we recognise that 2026 will bring new challenges for the profession, yet as Environmental Health professionals, we carry essential knowledge, skills, and an enthusiastic spirit that uniquely position us to respond to these.

Some of the emerging challenges for the profession include the Climate Change Plan (2026-2040), which warns of more frequent extreme weather events and sets ambitious targets, to cut emissions and meet carbon reduction targets, reshaping how we live, travel, and heat our homes. Air quality remains a priority with a new framework replacing “Cleaner Air for Scotland 2” to tighten standards and tackle persistent health inequalities. Fuel poverty and poor housing conditions continue to drive respiratory and cardiovascular risks, and the introduction of Awaab’s Law for Scotland under the new Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 is a significant step forward. This law will require landlords to urgently investigate and address damp and mould within strict timeframes, improving standards for vulnerable households. Food safety regulation is also evolving, with new legislation and Food Standards Scotland’s 2026-2031 strategy focusing on authenticity, resilience, and healthy diets. These developments will demand proactive engagement from environmental health professionals to protect public health and promote sustainability as we go forward.

Our REHIS priorities this year include strengthening the Institute’s finances, preparing an updated Environmental Health Manifesto for Scotland, continuing to advance pathways into Environmental Health, engaging with our members, training centres, and stakeholders, updating our Royal Charter, and delivering our Strategic Plan.

Financial pressures remain a reality for everyone, and REHIS is no exception. Our ability to support the profession and promote Environmental Health depends on strong membership levels and income from our community training programmes. Both areas remain a priority, and work is ongoing to ensure they are sustainable in the longer term. Membership retention and growth are vital, and our Membership Action Plan is designed to strengthen these areas, but your continued support makes the biggest difference. Please help us by continuing to promote the benefits of REHIS membership to colleagues and I encourage you all to participate. Your input is always welcomed to help shape future offerings so please get in touch with any suggestions for CPD events, about anything we could do different and/or if you would like to get more involved.

I’m excited about what 2026 holds. Our evolving priorities and changing legislative landscape present us with immense opportunities to lead the way. With our expertise, proactive spirit, and united efforts, we can make a profound impact on the health of our communities and environment.

I look forward to the year ahead and working closely with our new Senior Vice President (John Murray) and Junior Vice President (Sandy Fowler), all of our Council members and REHIS staff. I hope to meet many of you at future REHIS events and Institute gatherings. Please feel free to share any ideas, feedback, or areas you would like me to champion.

Wishing every member a successful and rewarding 2026.

Wood burning produces fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), which enters your bloodstream when inhaled and can cause heart and lung disease, as well as increasing your risk of diabetes and dementia.

If people in the UK only burned wood when no other heat source is available, we could avoid more than 1,500 deaths in the UK every year and save the NHS over £54 million in healthcare costs (that’s nearly 1.5 million GP appointments each year).

Even homes with newer “Ecodesign” wood burners are three times more polluted than those without, putting the health of you and your family at risk. And burning wood doesn’t just pollute your home – it pollutes your local community and harms the health of your neighbours.

We all want to stay warm this winter, but cosiness shouldn’t cost our health. This Clean Air Night (22 January 2026), share the facts about wood burning with your friends and family to protect everyone’s health.

Visit cleanairhub.org.uk to find out more and join the conversation on #CleanAirNight

Read the Ricardo report and watch the recording from the webinar in October to learn more about research quantifying the impacts of domestic burning on health.  

On behalf of everyone at REHIS, we wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.  We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you again in 2026. 

The REHIS office will close at 2pm on Wednesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. 

Season’s Greetings
On behalf of everyone at REHIS, we wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.  We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you again in 2026.  REHIS Merry CHRISTMAS

The REHIS office will close at 2pm on Wednesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. 

REHIS Lunchtime Seminar – 14 January 2026, 1215-1315  – FREE TO MEMBERS
The role of the Drinking Water Regulator and Private Water Supplies with Moira Malcolm and Jacqui Middleton  Free to Members – Lunchtime Training Events – January – REHIS

REHIS Southern Centre Event – 29 January 2026, 0930-1300
Traditional Housing Construction, Disrepair and Energy Improvement
Join John Gilbert Architects for an insightful half-day online training session focused on the construction, defects, and sustainable retrofit of traditional buildings. For more information REHIS Southern Centre – Traditional Housing Construction, Disrepair and Energy Improvement – REHIS

Environmental Health Scotland – the Journal
Special 150 Edition

Is now available in the Members section of the website. REHIS Journal – REHIS

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Participants of the Institute’s CPD Scheme, will be aware that CPD submissions for calendar year 2025 require to be with the Institute by 31 January 2026. The submission and the supporting evidence can be submitted online via the members section of the website.  For guidance on the updated CPD scheme, please refer here CPD – REHIS

A butcher in Strathaven has been fined £1000 after an explosion and fire at her premises left a man with serious burns.

Ann Davidson breached health and safety legislation by storing a propane gas cylinder in the kitchen of her premises.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard she and two men, aged 69 and 58, fled as flames engulfed the building on August 11, 2022.

Richard Brown, prosecuting, said the older man suffered burns to his face, head, hands and back. He was in intensive care in hospital for two weeks and underwent surgery and skin grafts.

Mr Brown told the court: “He also suffered a stroke and developed sepsis. He was in hospital until January 2023 when he went into a care home. He is likely to stay there for the rest of his life. “It’s thought the severe injury sustained in the fire was a significant factor in bringing about his stroke.”

The 58-year-old was treated for minor burns while Davidson suffered burns to her hands and permanent hair loss.

Davidson, 51, of Blackburn Farm, Chapelton, admitted failing to store the gas cylinder safely.

The court was told she and the two men were working late in the evening when the explosion happened. Davidson and the 58-year-old left the shop for a short time and when they returned they heard a “hissing sound” from the kitchen. This was followed immediately by a blast.

Mr Brown said: “On hearing the explosion, customers emerged from a nearby pub to assist. Residents living above the shop were evacuated.“Numerous fire appliances attended and firefighters worked for several hours to bring the blaze under control.”

The fire was caused by gas escaping and igniting after the cylinder valve was opened.

Mr Brown added: “The cylinder should have been stored outside or in a properly ventilated area, but not in the kitchen.”

Davidson did not attend court for the hearing. Her lawyer, Vikki Watt, produced a doctor’s letter explaining that she still suffers “physical and psychological effects” following the blaze.

She stated: “My client offers her sincere apologies and appreciates the catastrophic consequences for [the older man] who was a family friend.

“She was aware of the requirement to be careful over the storage of the gas cylinder, but felt it was safer in the kitchen than outside where the general public would have access to it.”

The solicitor described Davidson as a “hard-working and dedicated” person who is “well-respected and active in the community”.

The Strathaven shop has not reopened since the fire but she now runs a shop in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling.

Sheriff Linda Nicolson described what happened as “extremely unfortunate” but accepted it was an “isolated” incident.

Davidson was given three months to pay the fine.

Changing diets and an ageing population may be contributing to a rise in serious Listeria infections across Europe, according to the new EU One Health Zoonoses Report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

In 2024, Listeria caused the highest proportion of hospitalisations and deaths among all foodborne infections reported in the European Union (EU). About 7 in 10 people infected with Listeria needed hospital care, and 1 in 12 people died.

The upward trend of infections seen in recent years may reflect several factors, including Europe’s ageing population, changing eating habits – such as the increasing consumption of RTE foods – as well as improper food handling and storage practices.

For RTE foods, contamination levels remain very low across most categories: the latest data onListeria monocytogenes show that the proportion of samples exceeding the EU food safety limits ranged from 0% to 3% across all products analysed, with fermented sausages being the most frequently contaminated products.

“Even though contamination is rare, Listeria can cause severe illness, which makes it one of the most serious foodborne threats we monitor,” said Ole Heuer, Head of ECDC’s One Health Related Diseases Unit. “Protecting vulnerable groups, such as older adults, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems, requires strong surveillance, safe food production and key precautions at home.” 

While Listeria poses the greatest risk of severe illness, Campylobacter and Salmonella remain the most common causes of foodborne illness in Europe, with poultry meat and eggs being important sources of infection.

Recent data in the animal sector also show significant increase over the past decade in the number of breeding chickens and turkey flocks testing positive for Salmonella. Controlling these bacteria in the food chain remains essential to reducing human cases:

Enhanced surveillance tools, such as whole genome sequencing, allow authorities to detect and investigate outbreaks more effectively, supporting coordinated actions across the food chain.

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is calling for urgent action to prevent an overcapacity of waste incineration that campaigners warn threatens climate goals, public health and the circular economy.

ESS has reached agreement with the Scottish Government on a series of actions that will bring clarity over Scotland’s future incineration capacity needs and ensure that consideration is given to them when determining applications for increasing incineration capacity in Scotland.

Together these actions will help ensure that Scotland does not become overly reliant on incineration as a means of waste management, known in the industry as, ‘incineration lock-in.’

While incineration is considered to have a lower climate impact than landfill, there is a concern that unregulated growth of the industry poses a risk to public health, threatens to undermine preferable waste management options such as recycling, and could hamper Scotland’s net zero ambitions.

More than 1.86 million tonnes of waste was burned in Scotland in 2024, an increase of 354% from 2011. The shift towards increased incineration has resulted in the construction of new incineration facilities. As of 2024, 18 permitted incineration sites were operating in Scotland. In addition, the available capacity at an existing facility has also increased. For example, in 2023, the waste facility in Dunbar expanded its capacity by 65,000 tonnes.

ESS undertook an investigation following concerns raised that the Scottish Government had failed to implement a key recommendation from a 2022 independent review of incineration. This recommendation concerned the development of an indicative residual waste management cap intended to prevent long-term incineration overcapacity and support Scotland’s transition to a circular economy. Although the Scottish Government accepted this recommendation at the time, it was never implemented.

Concerns had also been raised to ESS that the Scottish Government had failed to control incineration capacity effectively.

A new report published by ESS, “The effectiveness of the Scottish Government’s Implementation and Application of Environmental Law in relation to Incineration Capacity in Scotland”, outlines the measures the Scottish Government has agreed to implement in response to the concerns raised by ESS’ investigation.

These measures include commitments to:

• publish an updated forecast of incineration capacity in Scotland
• develop an indicative residual waste treatment cap through the forthcoming Residual Waste Plan (due in 2027)
• integrate the national indicative cap into the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s permitting framework, ensuring that national capacity is considered when assessing all environmental authorisation applications for capacity changes

Mark Roberts, Chief Executive of ESS, said: “While well-regulated incineration has a role in managing unavoidable residual waste, we must prevent the potential harm caused from over-reliance on this method of waste management.

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to develop an indicative cap and ensuring this is reflected in SEPA’s permitting regulations, will provide a strategic benchmark for decision making, reinforce the objectives of the waste hierarchy and prevent overcapacity that could undermine wider recycling and waste reduction efforts.

“We will continue to monitor the implementation of the new measures and provide updates to the public on progress.”

A new online portal (Matchmaker Scheme for Empty Homes in Scotland – Scotland Empty Homes Partnership)has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. 

Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as “matchmaker schemes”, which allow owners of empty homes to upload details of their properties to a website through which anyone, such as first time buyers, families, developers or local authorities, can make purchasing enquiries.   

The portal is hosted by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and has been developed as part of a £2 million investment this year to recruit additional empty homes officers and fund initiatives that will accelerate the pace and numbers of empty homes that are brought back into use.  

Properties can be listed free of charge.  

Local schemes currently exist in Aberdeenshire, the Borders, Fife, East Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and South Ayrshire. The majority will wind down their schemes in place of this new national portal. Aberdeen City will continue their local scheme.  

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: 

“If you have an empty home to sell, this new portal is for you.

“Making best use of existing housing stock is central to tackling the housing emergency. Bringing owners and buyers together is a great way of adding to the overall housing supply, be that for affordable housing or use on the private market and it complements our ambitious house building programme.

“We are already making progress in turning around empty properties. Over the past 15 years we have helped return almost 13,000 privately owned homes to use and last year we saw 2,066 homes brought back in a single year, the highest in a year to date.  

“I would encourage anyone who has a home lying empty to use this new scheme and seek advice from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership and their local council to bring their home back into use.” 

Tahmina Nizam, Scottish Empty Homes Partnership National Manager, said: 

“Every home matters in our collective fight against the housing emergency, so we’re delighted to launch this brand-new matchmaker scheme. 

“We know selling an empty home can be a daunting task; the matchmaker scheme is designed to make that process easier and to help get more homes back into productive use. 

“We want anyone who owns an empty home to know that support is available, either from the network of dedicated local empty homes officers working in local authorities across the country or directly from the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. 

“No home was built to sit empty and it’s vital that we make the best possible use of the assets we already have. Every individual empty property could provide a safe and secure place for someone to call home, but collectively Scotland’s empty homes can make a huge contribution to ending the housing emergency.”