REHIS News

Clean Air Day 2021, coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS) on behalf of the Scottish Government, has been declared the most successful campaign in its five-year history with 190 participating organisations and individuals, including 20 Scottish local authorities. EPS Policy and Communications Officer John Bynorth recaps on the activities that occurred across the Nation.

Food Standards Scotland have updated its guidance for food business operators (FBOs) and their employees on 19 July.

A summary of the changes in the update are as follows:

• Removal of FACTS 
• Changing of physical distancing requirements in line with Scottish Government restrictions 
• Deletions of outdated text and consolidation of repetition, with editing of headings for easier readability 

The Scottish Government has published a new strategy, setting out Scotland’s air quality framework for the next five years. 

The provisional data released shows that a total of 142 workers were killed at work in Great Britain in 2020/21.

In statistical terms the number of fatalities has remained broadly level in recent years – the average annual number of workers killed at work over the five years 2016/17-2020/21 is 136.

Consultation on the details of a licensing scheme for short term lets will take place over seven weeks this summer.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has announced the publication of a draft licensing order for consultation, ahead of laying the final legislation at the Scottish Parliament in September.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Water are collaborating to clean up the water at one of Scotland’s busiest bathing waters, Ayr (South Beach) ahead of a unique ‘staycation’ summer.

Zero Waste Scotland publishes a new landmark report, The Scottish Material Flow Accounts, that reveals the size of Scotland’s consumption footprint for the first time.

The report shows the average Scot consumes 18.4 tonnes of materials every year which is the equivalent of 50kg per day on average.   The weight calculated for the average European was 14.1 tonnes.

The Scottish Government have published updated Strategic Framework and Physical Distancing Review, following the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 22 June.  

During the statement First Minister announced the whole of Scotland will move to Level 0 on 19 July if all necessary vaccination and harm reduction measures are met.

A consultation on new legislation on the sale and use of fireworks and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics has been published.

The proposed Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill follows the report of an independent Fireworks Review Group which recommended tightening legislation to reduce the harm fireworks can cause.

The eight week consultation will seek views on the creation of a new offence of carrying a pyrotechnic device in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

FSS have published a series of seven sector specific