Clean Air Day 2019
- 20 April 2019
Thursday June 20, 2019, marks Clean Air Day (CAD) – a red letter day for air quality That’s when people and organisations will come together across Scotland for the annual event to raise awareness of the difference we can all make to the air we breathe. Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS), is once again coordinating Clean Air […]
Wild parakeet flock causes concern in Glasgow park
- 15 April 2019
Parakeets are causing concerns in a park in Glasgow– leading to a potential ‘cull’ as has been the case in London and also in Spain, About 20 or 30 of the birds have made their home in Victoria Park in the west of the city, leading to the Scottish Natural Heritage deeming them the most […]
Scottish bakery fined after boy almost dies from allergic reaction
- 15 April 2019
Nevis Bakery Limited, based in Inverness-shire has been fined £6,000 at Belfast Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to failing to provide information on an allergenic ingredient – namely eggs – on its Empire biscuits. The firm also admitted to putting the biscuits that were deemed unsafe and considered injurious to health to a specific category […]
Food Standards Scotland launch allergen alert tool
- 13 April 2019
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has launched a new food allergy alert service, offering consumers on-the-go updates on missing or incorrect allergen information on food labels. The free service, available through the FSS homepage, gives the option to receive specific alerts via text message or email on issues involving any of the 14 allergens that must be […]
Veggie alternatives cannot carry meat product names under new EU food labelling proposal
- 11 April 2019
Under proposals approved by a group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), meat-alternative food products cannot carry meat product and meat preparation names such as burgers and steaks. The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee met on 1 April to vote on the first proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2020. Amendments to […]
Perishable exports “should have priority” in no-deal Brexit
- 9 April 2019
Scotland’s transport secretary is urging the UK Government to ensure that time-sensitive exports are given priority in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Michael Matheson MSP has written to his UK counterpart Chris Grayling asking that critical exports such as Scottish seafood are given priority access to the additional ferry capacity secured by the UK […]
REHIS Annual Environmental Forum 2019- programme released
- 26 March 2019
The programme for the REHIS Annual Environmental Health Forum 2019 has now been released. The REHIS Annual Environmental Health Forum provides all Environmental Health Professionals in both the public and private sectors an opportunity to maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and competence. This year’s Forum under the theme ‘Making the Difference to Public Health’ […]
Preparing for Brexit: an Environmental Health Overview
- 25 March 2019
Unless a withdrawal agreement is approved (or Article 50 is delayed), the UK will leave the European Union with no negotiated exit – and in a second everything will change. In Scotland food, health and safety, and environmental protection, regulation has been driven by the EU. There are over 50 separate EU Directives and Regulations alone […]
Scottish Government launch campaign to reduce alcohol harm
- 25 March 2019
On March 11th 2019, the Scottish Government launched Count 14, a national alcohol public information campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the recommended alcohol limits, as research shows only around a fifth of people in Scotland (17 per cent) know what they are. The ‘Count 14’ awareness campaign has been developed to demonstrate what […]
Scottish councils must make ‘fundamental changes’ says public spending watchdog
- 25 March 2019
“Fundamental change” is required to ensure Scotland’s councils deliver services in the face of ever decreasing funding, according to the local authority public spending watchdog. The Local Government Overview 2019 report by the Accounts Commission found that despite reducing funding and increasing demands, across local government, councils are either improving or maintaining most services, although it is clear […]
Vintage gas masks and asbestos
- 24 March 2019
Concerns have been raised about the sale of World War II gas masks on the internet, as WW II gas masks and World War I “Brodie” helmets may contain asbestos. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has previously advised schools, that it was not appropriate for children or teachers to wear or handle a Second […]
Hospitalisation and deaths linked to the consumption of DNP
- 24 March 2019
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has issued an alert to colleagues including Environmental Health teams regarding recent hospitalisations and deaths reported across the UK relating to the consumption of 2,4- Dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP is an industrial chemical that is unfit for human consumption and illegal for use in foodstuffs. Despite best efforts to remove products from sale, […]
