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20 January 2010 was the 135^th anniversary of the establishment of the Sanitary Inspectors’ Association of Scotland – the Association is the original forebear of today’s Institute! The Association then became The Sanitary Association of Scotland in 1878, The Incorporated Sanitary Association of Scotland in 1902 and finally The Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland (RSAS) in 1924. The RSAS joined with The Scottish Institute of Environmental Health to form REHIS in 1983. The Management Committee is currently considering a number of proposals on how best to mark this important milestone.

The attention of environmental health professionals is drawn to the recently issued Health Protection Agency (HPA), LACORS and HSE note for local authorities in England, Wales and N. Ireland. The note, Understanding and Managing the Risks from E.coli O157 in an Open Farm Context, has been produced following the outbreak of E. coli O157 at Godstone Farm in England last year. As advised in the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) Weekly Report dated 24 March 2010 (Volume 44 No. 2010/12) the Scottish Government and HPS are currently planning further work around E.coli O157 including the establishment of an expert group. This work will take account of the Godstone Farm investigation as well as other relevant ongoing inquiries from across the UK. The HPA, LACoRS and HSE note can be accessed via the following link. www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1267551713479?p=1259152466069

REHIS has launched an International Essay Competition. REHIS, a Founder Member of the International Federation of Environmental Health, celebrated its 135^th birthday earlier this year and has marked the occasion by inviting undergraduate and postgraduate students on Environmental Health programmes accredited by member organisations of the Federation to participate in an essay competition. The set essay topic will be: How would you raise the profile of environmental health and make its delivery more relevant to government and policy makers over the next five years? This is a REHIS award and the Institute aims to raise the profile of international environmental health issues, encourage student Environmental Health Professionals to consider Environmental Health in a global perspective, and promote the work of the Federation as the global umbrella organisation for environmental health. Full details attached.

Tom Bell

Chief Executive

Call for Papers

Papers are invited on subjects related to the programme, see attached flyer, for oral and poster presentations. Please download an abstract template from the website, and note the closing dates of 30th November 2010 – oral and 31st March 2011 – poster

The FIPS 2011 conference which will be held on the 6th-8th June 2011 at the Edinburgh Conference Centre is designed to address existing and emerging issues in environmental microbiology which offer exciting new challenges in microbiology, public health and environmental science which will assist in monitoring and modeling environmental systems to protect human health, animal welfare and environmental quality. These are central to trends in regulation and management of microbial dynamics through cultural and molecular methods, real-time prediction and proactive health protection. The challenges to the science and operational communities are significant but offer new opportunities for interdisciplinary investigation and research to offer useful and sustainable solutions to emerging challenges for our diverse and growing community.

EUCEN – the European Association for University Lifelong Learning – is looking for collaborators to evaluate the recently developed new module on Food Safety, as part of DOLCETA (www.dolceta.eu), an interactive web-based consumer education tool financed by the European Commission. The website has been set up in 21 languages and 27 different versions for each EU Member State and consists of different modules on consumer rights, financial literacy and services, product safety, sustainable consumption and food safety. See attached document for more information and contact details. The deadline for applications is 17 December 2010

The first meeting of the 2011 Management Committee was convened, under the chairmanship of Paul Bradley, at the Institute’s office in Edinburgh on Wednesday 12 January. The committee has delegated responsibility for the Council’s powers and duties for general financial matters, public and media relations, premises and equipment, Annual Conference and for staffing. The committee meets four times each year and is chaired by the Senior Vice-President. 

Photo

The Management Committee (from left to right) Colin Wallace, Alistair Thomson, Rod House, Paul Bradley, Martin Keeley and Bernard Forteath. Hon. Treasurer Martin Henry missed the photo call.

This free to members event precedes the Institute’s Annual General Meeting which will be held on the afternoon of 18 November 2010 at the same venue. This event will be held at the Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2HS. There are still a few places available.Bookings should be made on the attached form which should be returned to REHIS, 19 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8HX. The non-member delegate fee is £50.00. Refreshments and a light buffet lunch will be provided. For further information please contact us on 0131 229 2968 or by email at contact@

The President, members of Council and members of staff at REHIS wish everyone in the Scottish and international environmental health community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Professor Hugh Pennington, the 2010 recipient of the REHIS Meritorious Endeavours in Environmental Health Award, was presented with a silver medal by Rod House the Institute’s President at the Institute’s 2010 Annual Award Ceremony in Edinburgh. On receipt of his award Prof. Pennington addressed the audience of award winners, their families and invited guests and told them that the award ‘…. makes me immensely proud. To be recognised in this way by REHIS, an organisation that has been at the forefront and front line of public health work in Scotland for well over a century, is a career highlight for me.’

Professor Pennington was Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen from 1979 to 2003 and is now Emeritus. In 1996-97 he chaired an Expert Group established by the Secretary of State for Scotland to make recommendations after the 1996 Central Scotland E.coli O157 outbreak and he chaired the Public Inquiry into the 2005 South Wales E.coli O157 outbreak which reported to the First Minister for Wales in 2009. Professor Pennington has enhanced Scotland’s international reputation as a leader in standards for environmental health and has served to inspire environmental health professionals across the country. This award recognises Professor Pennington’s contribution as a microbiologist to the protection of public health in Scotland over many years, his support of the Institute’s objectives and his support for the important role that the Environmental Health Profession plays in the improvement and protection of public health in Scotland. Professor Pennington is indeed a worthy recipient.

Tom Bell

Chief Executive

Alistair Thomson has been installed as the REHIS President for the coming year. Rod House, who stood down as President, handed over of the Chain of Office at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting on 18 November in Edinburgh. The first meeting of the new Council takes place on Saturday 4 December.

Earlier this month Glasgow City Council, The Scottish Government, Glasgow 2014, Environmental Protection UK (EPUK) and A Games Legacy for Glasgow hosted the Environment and Sustainability Conference at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The key topics discussed were sustainability throughout the Games, Games-time and the legacy of Glasgow 2014. The launch of the Sustainability DVD, the Glasgow City Council Sustainability Plan and the official consultation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment also took place. The sustainability plan and the consultation are all downloadable from this website. The excellent presentations made at the conference are downloadable from the EPUK website http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/events/details/?id=2584.

The REHIS Health and Safety Update and Food Update Courses were presented in the Holiday Inn Edinburgh Hotel, Edinburgh during October.  These events proved to be as popular as ever with over 110 delegates participating over both days. The Health and Safety Course covered Emerging Issues from the HSE, LPG Bulk Tank Inspections, Gas Safety, FAI associated with adventure activities, Noise at Work and Respiratory Protective Equipment . The Food Update Course, presented in partnership with the Food Standards Agency Scotland as  part of the Agency’s Low Cost Training Initiative covered presentations on defending food and drink followed by a workshop on Threat Assessment Critical Control Points, an update from the Food Standards Agency, presentations on Novel Foods, the FSA Foodborne Disease Strategy and a focus on listeria . REHIS takes this opportunity to thank the course presenters, session chairmen, partner organisations and, of course, the delegates for their active participation.