Category: Uncategorized

Following the decision by Scottish Government Ministers to create a new Scottish body for food safety and standards, feed safety and standards, nutrition, food labeling and meat inspection the Scottish Government has launched a consultation on creating the New Food Body in Scotland.

You are invited to take this opportunity to tell the Scottish Government what you think the role of the new food body should be and how food safety and standards should be addressed in Scotland in the future.

The consultation can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/02/2691 

The closing date for responses is the 22 May 2013.

NHS Health Scotland has produced a suite of health inequalities briefing notes to complement the December 2012 SOA guidance to help Community Planning Partnerships in the development of their Single Outcome Agreement.  Click on this hyperlink for more information on the following topics.

1. Health Inequalities briefing: Broad messages

2. Health Inequalities briefing:  Physical Activity

3. Health Inequalities briefing:  Early Years

4. Health Inequalities briefing:  Outcomes for Older People

5. Health Inequalities briefing:  Employment

6. Health Inequalities briefing: Economic Recovery and Growth

7. Health Inequalities briefing: Creating Healthy Places

8. Health inequalities briefing:  Addressing Gender- based Violence

Scottish Government Ministers have agreed to create a new Scottish body for food safety, food standards, nutrition, food labelling and meat inspection.

The move follows the recommendations of the Scudamore review, which was commissioned by the Scottish Government as a result of the UK Government’s decision to move responsibility for nutrition and food labelling in England from the Food Standards Agency to the Department of Health and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2010.

For more information go to http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/foodstandards27062012

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) & Biomass (Developmental Control)

The aim of the training event is to provide professionals/technical officers with an insight into Air Quality Assessment Tools (specifically Biomass) used to inform Developmental Controls currently in use within a local authority scenario.In addition there will be a short presentation on a practical example of establishing and tackling an identified Air Quality Management Area.   

Participation in this event carries a maximum value of 1 hour (Core Activity) for the REHIS Scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

See the attached flyer for more information.

This list details the resources that are available for trainers who deliver REHIS food safety,food and health,control of infection and health and safety courses.The list includes an order form.

The REHIS Annual Conference is the principal Environmental Health event to take place in Scotland. It provides an opportunity to reflect on current and future approaches to protecting and improving the health of the Scottish people and to renew friendships and make new ones. This year’s Conference is being held in Renfrew and I look forward to welcoming you.

Bernard Forteath, President

See attached flyer for more information.

The December 2012 edition of the REHIS e-Newsletter ‘News for Public Health Professionals’ has been uploaded to this website and is accessible from a dedicated public access portal to the right of this news item.

If you wish to feature any Environmental Health or Public Health initiative, event or activity in the REHIS Newsletter, please contact Jim Thomson, Policy/Professional Development Officer, The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, 19 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 229 2968 or jt@

The Institute calls for an increase in food sampling and tests to ensure the protection of the food chain and consumer protection in Scotland.

See attached press release for more information.

The Winter 2012 edition of Environmental Health Scotland, the REHIS Journal, can be accessed in the Members area. This edition includes articles on Controlling Bed Bugs and Cockroaches in Residential Properties: A Focus on Govanhill; Preventing Legionellosis; Full Steam Ahead at the Engine Shed; REHIS Annual Awards Ceremony 2012;Professional Development ; Sustainability of an Ecological Sanitation Project in Thyolo District, Malawi; Journalism Awards 2012;Food Hygiene Training in Schools Initiative; Family Firm is Scotland’s Green Champion; From the Courts and the REHIS Conference 2013.

The Zero Waste Challenge is the new online service that gives you immediate access to a downloadable waste prevention action plan tailored to your business.

Simply tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do to discover the key things that your business can do now to save money. 

Plus, get the guidance that will help you realise those savings quickly.

Want to know about the Waste Hierarchy and how you measure up? The Zero Waste Challenge will tell you that too and show you how you can become even more resource efficient.

Take the Zero Waste Challenge and get a FREE waste prevention action plan for your organisation now.

If you want to reduce your business waste and boost your profits in 2013, then you are minutes away from finding out how you can do just that.
Over 500 organisations from across Scotland have already taken the Zero Waste Challenge. If you aren’t one of them yet, take the Zero Waste Challenge today and get a FREE waste prevention action plan for your organisation.
Go to http://challenge.zerowastescotland.org.uk/

Young Samanyika has been appointed as an Honorary Vice-President of the Institute. Young is President of the Malawi Environmental Health Association (MEHA) and is the Principal Environmental Health Officer at the Ministry of Health in Malawi.  MEHA is one of the Institute’s international partners. Young has visited Scotland on two occasions both facilitated by REHIS and he presented a paper at the Institute’s Environmental Health Update event in 2009.  MEHA, under the Presidency of Young, has progressed the development of the Environmental Health Service and has revitalised the role of MEHA in Malawi.  The latter includes the introduction of CPD for members.  Honorary Vice-President appointments are for periods of up to three years and can be extended by the Council.

George Fairgrieve, a long standing member and Fellow of the Institute, has rounded off an eventful 2012 by being awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List. Prior to his retirement as Food and Safety Manager with East Lothian Council, after 42 years of service, in August George stood down as the Chairman of the Scottish Food Law Enforcement Committee (SFELC). During his tenure as SFELC Chairman George oversaw the development and strengthening of the committee and it is now widely respected and envied across the UK . SFELC is a true liaison committee with all food sectors represented and contributing to formulation of workable policy, good guidance and an excellent sounding board for all food issues. George was also elected to the Institute’s Council at its Annual General Meeting in November. The Institute offers its hearty congratulations to George and its best wishes to him and to his family.

Tom Bell

Chief Executive

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland