Unlicensed XL bully dogs to be banned in Scotland
- 15 January 2024
The Scottish Government have announced that there will be tight safeguards introduced on XL Bully dogs in Scotland to make it a criminal offence to own the breed without an exemption certificate. The legislation will mirror what has been introduced by the UK Government in England and Wales, and prevent Scotland from becoming a ‘dumping […]
One person dies in Scotland after UK E coli outbreak
- 15 January 2024
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland (PHS), Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are working together with other partner agencies to investigate an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O145 identified through the analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. As of 27 December 2023, 30 confirmed cases […]
REHIS News – December 2023
- 20 December 2023
Season GreetingsOn 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 2024. Please note that the REHIS Office will be closed from Fri 22nd December until Wed 3rd January 2024. (There will […]
What was agreed on climate change at COP28 in Dubai?
- 20 December 2023
World leaders have reached a new agreement to tackle climate change with the proposed plan to reach net zero by 2050 at COP28 in Dubai. Now known as the UAE Consensus, the document ‘calls on parties to contribute’ to efforts at bringing down emissions, and in turn air pollution. This includes ‘transitioning away from fossil […]
France backs bill to ban disposable vapes
- 20 December 2023
The French parliament has voted unanimously to ban single-use diposable e-cigarettes. The move is an attempt to protect young people drawn to their flavours, and to mitigate the environmental impact of the disposable products, known in France as “puffs”. It still needs backing from France’s Senate and clearance from the EU Commission before it becomes […]
Imported American sweets with illegal ingredients seized
- 19 December 2023
Imported American confectionary containing ingredients that aren’t authorised to be used in UK have been seized from shops in England. Large quantities of American candy and drinks aimed at children that are not compliant, including those containing ingredients banned in this country, have been discovered in shops in England. Trading Standards officers at Staffordshire County […]
Data shows outbreaks rose across Europe in 2022
- 19 December 2023
Foodborne outbreaks and related deaths in Europe went up in 2022, according to EFSA and ECDC. The 2022 One Health zoonoses report, published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), revealed the number of foodborne outbreaks and cases, hospitalizations and deaths was higher than in 2021. […]
Clean Air Night
- 19 December 2023
Did you know that lighting fires in our homes is the largest source of harmful small particle air pollution in the UK? This type of air pollution can cause life-threatening illnesses, including heart and lung disease, making it crucial that we raise awareness about this growing issue. Wood burning not only harms your health, but […]
COVID-19 mis/disinformation narratives study published
- 19 December 2023
Over the course of three years (from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022), researchers analysed 58,625 articles from 460 unverified sources – sources that were indicated by fact checkers and other mis/disinformation experts as frequently spreading mis/disinformation – in order to identify the main narratives of COVID-19 mis/disinformation and analyse their spread over time […]
European doctors warn of adverse health effects of cannabis
- 19 December 2023
The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) has published a policy cautioning policy-makers and the public of the serious public health concern of cannabis. The policy highlights evidence of substantial health harms related to cannabis use across Europe. Adopting the core principle of medicine, of ‘first do no harm’, European doctors oppose further legalisation of […]
Flytipping fine to increase to £500 on 1st January
- 19 December 2023
An Order laid before Scottish parliament on 10th November will see the fixed penalty notice for flytipping increase from £200 to £500 from 1 January 2024. The Fly-tipping (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2023 exercises of the power conferred by section 33A(10) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which provides for a fixed penalty notice procedure […]
Scottish Household Survey 2022 results published
- 17 December 2023
The Chief Statistician has released the results of the 2022 Scottish Household Survey. In 2022 most (95%) adults rated their neighbourhood as a good or very good place to live, and over half (57%) felt there were places to meet up and socialise. The proportion of adults experiencing feelings of loneliness in the last week increased […]
