Beach and harbour in Fife closed by suspected oil spill
- 25 February 2019
A beach and harbour in Fife have been closed off as a precaution following a suspected oil spill. This was after residents reported a strong smell of oil, and pockets of pollution were seen on the shoreline near the Limekilns / Charlestown area . An operation is now underway to remove polluted parts of Limekilns […]
Environment and climate impacts of aviation continue growing
- 23 February 2019
The European Aviation Environmental Report 2019, published jointly by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and EUROCONTROL, provides an updated assessment of the environmental performance of the aviation sector in Europe. The report states that, while aviation has produced economic benefits, stimulated innovation and improved connectivity within Europe, the sector's growth has […]
Body modification artist pleads guilty to three counts of GBH
- 23 February 2019
A body modification artist, known as “Dr Evil” who carried out a number of extreme procedures at his studio in Wolverhampton, including ear and nipple removal and tongue-splitting, pleaded guilty to three counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH). All procedures including the removal of a customer’s ear, a client’s nipple and splitting a customer’s tongue, […]
Microbiological survey of minced beef on sale in Scotland
- 23 February 2019
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and partners, in collaboration with public analysis laboratories, will conduct a comprehensive survey of the microbiological pathogens in minced beef across Scotland. The aim of this survey is to collect data on the microbiological quality of retail beef mince on sale in Scotland. In the first such survey of fresh beef […]
Public consultation on use of fireworks in Scotland launched
- 22 February 2019
The Scottish Government is gathering information and views on the use and regulation of fireworks in Scotland. They are seeking views on experiences and what the public think about the way fireworks are currently used. Fireworks are traditionally associated with festivities which celebrate events that are important to different communities across Scotland. Fireworks can bring […]
SEPA seal off Glasgow burn over dangerous levels of chromium
- 21 February 2019
High levels of a toxic chemical have been detected in Glasgow waterway, turning the burn bright green, are to be flushed into the River Clyde. Officers from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have sealed off the Polmadie burn, which runs through Richmond Park in the south of the city, after tests revealed high concentrations […]
Food industry warns Gove on Brexit ‘crisis’
- 19 February 2019
The UK food industry has threatened to suspend it cooperation with government policy consultations, until the "catastrophic impact" of a no-deal Brexit is resolved. The warning came in a letter to Environment Secretary Michael Gove from the heads of more than 30 trade associations, in which they argue that their focus on mitigating the potential […]
Changes to the tolerable standard guidance
- 19 February 2019
The tolerable standard has been amended and a house now only meets the standard if it complies with the relevant requirements in relation to satisfactory smoke and heat alarms and satisfactory carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. The standard has been amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criterion) Order 2019 and now […]
No-deal Brexit threatens the UK’s food security, British Retail Consortium warns
- 19 February 2019
A no-deal Brexit threatens the UK's food security and will lead to higher prices and empty shelves in the short-term, retailers are warning. UK retailers' industry group the British Retail Consortium has written to MPs with the warning, saying that the food retail sector's complex just-in-time supply chain will be significantly disrupted in the event […]
Consultation on allergen labelling launched
- 3 February 2019
New allergen rules have been proposed, including listing all ingredients and allergens on foods which are prepacked for direct sale. Food Standards Scotland, Food Standards Agency and the Department for Health and Social Care have launched a consultation on amending allergen information provisions contained within domestic food information legislation for food prepacked for direct sale […]
Construction company fined £600,000 after worker killed by truck
- 3 February 2019
A construction company has been fined £600,000 over the death of a workman who was struck by a dump truck. Vincent Ramsay, 55, was killed at a former tram depot in Leith, Edinburgh in 2016, when a dumper truck ran over him at the bottom of a dirt ramp leading into an underground car park. […]
Arcadia Group Ltd fined £450,000 after girl fractured skull in Topshop Store accident
- 2 February 2019
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Topshop owners, Arcadia Group Ltd have been fined £450,000 after pleading guilty to a single charge under the Health and Safety Work Act 1974. This was following a health and safety investigation by Environmental Health at Glasgow City Council into an injury of a 10-year- old girl at a Topshop store […]
