REHIS News

Please see here for the International Federation of Environmental Health’s December Newsletter

Participants of the CPD Scheme, including EHO and non-EHO members, will be aware that CPD submissions for calendar year 2020 require to be with the Institute by 31 January 2021.  The submission and the supporting evidence can be either e mailed or posted to the Institute.  For those due to complete a written submission, guidance is available 

Evonne Bauer, Executive Officer of Place and Community Planning, East Dunbartonshire Council is a Chartered EHO and currently Junior Vice-President of the Institute. Evonne’s contribution discusses the different aspects of local authorities’ response to this pandemic and how EHOs have been recognised as key players in the pandemic response. 

1. Describe your work role with relevance to the pandemic? 

by Calum Melrose, Environmental Health Officer, Glasgow City Council.

Alfa Wholesale Limited at 111 Lancefield Street, Glasgow G3 8HZ who operate as a wholesaler of food and groceries to the catering and retailing sector were successfully prosecuted on 26th November 2020 after an employee fell more than 5 metres through a plasterboard ceiling.

Shelf-life guidance for vacuum and modified atmosphere packed (VP/MAP) chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork with respect to non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum has been updated across the UK.

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period ends on 31 December 2020 which means we will also leave the Single Market and Customs Union. 

From 1 January 2021 a number of requirements will be different from an environmental health perspective mainly food safety.

Below is some information and helpful additional sources of information to help prepare for the end of the EU transition period. 

Transition of EU legislation into UK/Scottish law from 1 January 2021

European Food Safety Authority has developed a tool to help food business operators decide when to apply the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date to their products.

The use by date on food is about safety – foods can be eaten until this date but not after. The best before date, sometimes shown as BBE (best before end), is about quality and not safety. The food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best.

Holly Pullan, Environmental Health Officer, Scottish Borders Council has recently become Chair of HASCOG. She discusses how the pandemic has affected her work life and also her personal life.

1.         Describe you work before the pandemic? 

Since 12 December hospitality venues have been allowed to play low level background music and sound. Guidance has been produced to ensure hospitality premises have in place the necessary arrangements for the safe management of low-level background sound.

Brian Auld, Head of Safe Buildings and Assistant Secretary to the Board for the Church of Scotland General Trustees gives an insight into EHOs working in private practice and non-regulatory roles who continue to drive forward improvements in risk awareness, risk reduction and compliance. 

1.         Describe you work before the pandemic?