Category: Uncategorized

A series of roadshows for REHIS Trainers presented over the last two weeks in Dundee,Aberdeen,Glasgow and Falkirk have been hailed a great success by all who were involved.
Graham Walker,Director of Training,supported by Ian McGruther and Dr Jane Bunting,Training Advisers for Food Hygiene/Health and Safety and Food and Health respectively,each presented short and informative presentations which covered facts and figures about the activities of Approved Training Centres,influences on course syllabuses and resources,the role of Sector Skill Councils,work in progress with regard to specific courses and the development of a new Elementary Control of Infection Course.The opportunity was also taken to update trainers on the REHIS website and to advise them of benefits of membership of the Institute.
The Institute is grateful to the following organisations and the individuals involved who hosted the roadshows,Dundee College,Cameron Food Safety Centre,Glasgow Metropolitan College and Forth Valley College.

Tom Bell the REHIS Chief Executive expressed concern that the number of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) employed by Scottish local authorities continues to decline. Tom was giving evidence to the Health and Sport Committee at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 16 January during a session convened to consider the Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill. Tom advised the committee that the number of EHO posts in Scotland had dropped from around 800 in 1990 to below 500 in 2006 (the last year for which REHIS has statistics). Tom advised the meeting that the Minister for Public Health had agreed to facilitate a working group to consider the future of the Environmental Health Profession. The working group is due to meet for the first time on 4 February. Tom also advised the meeting that REHIS supported the introduction of the regulation of premises operating sunbeds and the introduction of a licensing regime. Evidence given to the committee can be reviewed in the Official Report of the Scottish Parliament. Progress with stage one of the Bill will continue for the next few weeks.

The International Federation of Environmental Health- 10th World Congress, hosted by the Australian Institute of Environmental Health, will be held in Brisbane between 11 and 16 May 2008. The Congress theme will be – Environmental Health, a Sustainable Future – 20 Years On. Full details are available on the IFEH website www.ifeh2008.org.

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!

Ken Macintosh MSP (pictured) yesterday stated that he had secured agreement from Scottish Government ministers to allow amendments to the Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill currently going through Parliament.

The Government is minded to allowing the Bill to being amended at Stage 2, which would bring in controls on unstaffed sunbed parlours and restrict use to over 18s only. Having to provide customer information would also be a requirement.

The details emerged at a meeting of the Health and Sport Committee, scrutinising the Bill. As well as the MSP, the Committee heard evidence from John Sleith, representing REHIS and Kathy Banks of The Sunbed Association.

Robert Howe has taken over the reins of the REHIS Presidency for the next year from outgoing President Bernard Forteath. The handover of the chain of office took place at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting on 22 November in Edinburgh.

This successful event, which was attended by over seventy members and non members, was held in Edinburgh on the morning of Thursday 22 November. Presentations were given by Dr Colin Ramsay, Consultant Epidemiologist, Health Protection Scotland, on the Anthrax Incident in the Scottish Borders, Lucy Smith, Public Health Bill Team, Scottish Government, on the Review of the Scottish Public Health Legislation, Valerie Sneddon, Project Co-ordinator, Communities Scotland, on the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and Rosemary Davidson, Public Health Nutrition Adviser, NHS Tayside, on Healthy Eating in Scotland.

The process of developing a national food policy commenced with an Open Space consultation event in Dundee on 8 October 2007.The event was sponsored by the Scottish Government Food Industry Unit.Sixty five participants from organisations all over Scotland were asked to address the question – What are the key issues that need to be considered in a National Food policy for Scotland?
The Institute was invited to participate in this discussion and was represented by Graham Walker, Director of Training.
The full report of the meeting is attached.

Places are still available on this free to members training event which will be held in the Menzies Belford Hotel, Edinburgh on the morning of Thursday 22 November. An interesting programme covering the Anthrax Incident in the Scottish Borders, the Review of the Scottish Public Health Legislation, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and Healthy Eating in Scotland has been put together. Non-members are very welcome to attend; the delegate fee for non-members is £40.00. Registration forms are available from the REHIS office. Members please note – the 2007 Annual General Meeting will be held at the same venue on the afternoon of Thursday 22 November.

A group of Maltese EHOs arrived in Scotland last month on a self-funded trip to undertake a programme of technical visits to a wide range of food production and processing premises with HACCP being an integral part of each visit. Bernard Forteath, the President of REHIS welcomed the delegation to the REHIS Offices in Edinburgh and expressed his thanks to EHO colleagues in North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Glasgow City Council, South Ayrshire Council and Renfrewshire Council for their assistance in putting an excellent programme of visits together.

The Scottish Executive, DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government have jointly issued a consultation on the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive and initial Regulatory Impact Assessment.
The consultation is designed to assist in developing a robust negotiating position on the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive. The consultation paper seeks views on the need for new EU legislation on soil protection, on the scope of the proposed Directive, the costs and benefits associated with it, and on the detail of the proposed provisions.
The consultation closes on 19 October 2007. However, in view of the intention of the Portugese Presidency to discuss this proposal at the October Environment Council (30 October 2007), stakeholders are invited to submit their responses ahead of the deadline if possible.
Full details of the consultation can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current

HMP Edinburgh is an Approved Training Centre delivering REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Courses for inmates and prison catering staff. Following the successful completion of the first Elementary Health and Safety Course delivered in a Scottish prison Graham Walker, Director of Training took the opportunity to present Paul John Manley and Stewart A Smith, two of the successful course participants, with their REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificates. Possession of this industry recognised qualification provides participants with the knowledge to help them to carry out their job safely and provides holders with an advantage when seeking employment. REHIS welcomes the investment in health and safety training at HMP Edinburgh and is wholly supportive of the endeavours of the Governor and staff involved.
Pictured with Graham Walker are, left to right, David Curr, Catering Trainer, HMP Edinburgh, Paul John Manley, Stewart A Smith and Graham Walker.