Environmental Health investigates certain accidents at work premises which reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
Animal Health monitors the health and welfare of farm and other animals.
Environmental Health monitors and produces an annual report into local air quality. They also investigate odour and smoke complaints as well as registering plant such as boilers and chimneys under the Clean Air Act.
The control and disposal of animal related waste which is not intended for human consumption.
Animal Health monitors the health and welfare of farm and other animals including during transportation and at market. Animal Health also plays an important part in disease control.
Environmental Health and Trading Standards work in partnership with Strathclyde Police and other agencies to reduce anti-social behaviour. Environmental Health deal with complaints of anti-social behaviour, including noise on a deferred-response basis.
Environmental Health can advise in relation to public health issues associated with asbestos.
Environmental Health monitors the Designated Bathing Waters in Scotland.
Environmental Health licence residential and touring caravan sites.
We are a consultee for applications relating to civic government licences
We have a key role in the investigation and control of any suspected or confirmed cases of communicable disease which can affect humans. This work is undertaken in partnership with NHS and in some cases, Health Protection Scotland. Examples include food poisoning, water-borne illness; and others including anthrax, Legionella and Hepatitis.
Environmental Health monitors contaminated land and keeps a record of contaminated sites, it also comments on planning applications where contamination is a potential issue.
Environmental Health keeps a register of notified cooling towers and evaporative condensers across Argyll and Bute as required by the Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.
The keeping of Dangerous Wild Animals is licensed by Environmental Health.
We are able to intervene where individual(s) are living in unsanitary accommodation which may impact on their health or others. The action depends on the nature and condition of the “dirty house”.
Environmental Health will investigate drainage problems in conjunction with Scottish Water and can provide advice regarding Septic Tanks although these are control by the Scottish Environmental Protect Agency (SEPA). Issues arising from roadside drainage are dealt with by Roads and Amenity Services.
Environmental Health is discipline covering Food Safety, Environmental Protection, Public Health and Housing, Health and Safety at Work, Licensing and Animal Health and Welfare .
Through our health protection role, we have a wide range of plans in place with other agencies which detail how we will respond to an incident; this includes food poisoning, chemical/environmental incident, animal and zoonotic disease (e.g. rabies, anthrax etc.)
Environmental Health/Trading Standards monitor the health and welfare of farm and other animals and also register Animal Feed producers and stores.
Environmental Health publishes results of food premises inspections under the Food Hygiene Information Scheme. You can search for food premises at www.food.gov.uk/ratings
Environmental Health are involved with ensuring the safety of food at all stages of production, storage, distribution and sale until it reaches the final consumer (i.e. from Farm to Fork). The quality, composition and labelling of food products is monitored by Environmental Health.
Environmental Health enforces gas safety in commercial premises where they enforce health & Safety. There are also duties under housing, HMO and caravan sites to ensure properties have valid Gas Safety Certificates and safe gas appliances.
Environmental Health supports the assessment of Gypsy/Traveller sites to ensure safe water, sanitation, waste management and public health conditions.
Environmental Health enforces GM food labelling and traceability requirements under retained EU food law to ensure that any GM ingredients in the food chain are safe, approved, and correctly declared to consumers.
Officers investigate waste accumulations and overgrown gardens that may harbour vermin or present public health risks under public health and nuisance legislation.
Environmental Health enforces the rules on the use of “gluten‑free” and “very low gluten” claims under assimilated EU law, including Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 828/2014, which sets strict compositional criteria (≤20 mg/kg for “gluten‑free” and ≤100 mg/kg for “very low gluten”). EH officers also check that food information is accurate and not misleading, following Food Standards Scotland guidance and wider allergen labelling requirements.
Environmental Health enforces health and safety legislation in certain workplaces which are not controlled by the Health and Safety Executive; these typically include shops, offices, warehouses and leisure facilities.
Our overarching responsibility is to protect health of the public. This is undertaken in partnership with other agencies (e.g. NHS, other local authorities, Food Standards Agency etc.). Councils have Joint Health Protection Plans agreed between NHS Boards and their co-terminus local authorities which outlines the national and local priorities. These are updated on a 2 yearly basis.
Environmental Health licence properties which are shared by three or more families and enforce minimum standards (smoke detectors, fire exits etc.).
Environmental Health investigates certain accidents at work premises which are required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
EH officers investigate notifications of infectious diseases, support public health protection measures, and work with NHS Health Protection Teams to prevent transmission.
EH investigates complaints about food hygiene, contamination, or suspected food poisoning incidents to identify sources, assess risk and prevent recurrence.
Officers identify and take action against unapproved or unsafe food production activities, including illegally imported foods and unauthorised slaughter or cutting operations.
Although Border Control Posts are specialist functions, local EH provides checks on imported foods entering supply chains within their area to ensure they meet UK food safety and standards laws.
Environmental Health frequently undertakes joint operations with Police Scotland, Trading Standards, SEPA, Social Work, or Licensing to address complex public health, food crime, noise, housing, or environmental offences.
EH collaborates with NHS Health Protection Teams for multi-agency management of infectious disease incidents, outbreaks, and environmental exposures affecting communities.
EH maintains legally‑required public registers (e.g., cooling towers, contaminated land, private water supplies) to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance.
EH ensures accurate evidence gathering—photos, sampling, statements, noise recordings—to support enforcement under food, housing, public health, and environmental protection law.
EH contributes to internal staff training, joint‑agency learning, and national networks (e.g., REHIS, PHS), to keep regulatory skills current.
Environmental Health administers the registration of private landlords as required by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2004. Most private landlords should be registered.
Environmental Health can administer the following licences, registrations and notifications – Animal Boarding Licence, Boilers and Chimneys under the Clean Air Act, Caravan site licence, Cinema licence, Cooling Tower Registration, Dangerous Wild Animal Licence, Dog Breeding Licence, Feed Hygiene Registration, Food Premises Registration (for all food businesses), Food Premises Approval, House in Multiple Occupancy Licence, Large Raised Reservoir Registration, Pet shop licence, notifications for the transport of Pigs, Private Landlord Registration, Riding establishment licence, Theatre Licence Tobacco and ‘Vaping’ Registration, Venison Dealer’s Licence and Zoo licence.
Environmental Health issues are reported to the Licensing Board.
Licensing Standards Officers advise businesses on their obligations and investigate complaints about premises licensed for the sale of alcohol.
Environmental Health can investigate complaints about light pollution and can take action where there is a statutory nuisance.
Animal Health monitors the health and welfare of farm and other animals including during transportation and at market. Animal Health also plays an important part in disease control.
Environmental Health will investigate complaints to establish whether nuisance exists. Such complaints might be odour, dust, noise, vibration, drainage, lighting and insects or other vermin. We can take formal action where there is a statutory nuisance or take informal action in less serious cases
Noise is very subjective and the impact of excessive noise impacts significantly on health and lifestyles on those affected. Where noise is deemed to be excessive and a nuisance, formal powers are available to require the abatement of that noise to acceptable levels. Noise nuisance is often dealt with in partnership with other agencies; for example – police, licensing standards officers, housing associations.
Other useful contacts Food Standards Agency – for advice in relation to the safe preparation and storage of food – www.food.gov.uk Health and Safety Executive – for advice in relation to health and safety - www.hse.gov.uk Police Scotland – to report a noise issue – www.scotland.police.uk, 101 (for non-emergencies) or local police station Scottish Environment Protection Agency – for advice in relation to pollution and flooding – www.sepa.org.uk or 0800 80 70 60 (Pollution Hotline) or 0845 988 1188 (Floodline) Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – to report issues in relation to domestic animals – www.scottishspca.org or 03000 999 999 Scottish Water – for advice on public water supplies and septic tank emptying – www.scottishwater.co.uk or 0845 601 8855 (Emergency Helpline 0845 600 8855) Scottish Fire and Rescue – Information in relation to fire safety or to arrange a free home fire safety visit – www.firescotland.gov.uk or 0800 0731 999
Environmental Health is a consultee for the Development Management planning process seeking to prevent or control any potential bad neighbour developments at the planning application stage. We also advise in relation to contaminated land when applicable.
Environmental Health can investigate reports of air, light and noise pollution and can take action where there is a statutory nuisance.
Environmental Health monitors and produces an annual report into local air quality. They also investigate odour and smoke complaints as well as registering plant such as boilers and chimneys under the Clean Air Act.
Environmental Health monitors the quality of commercial Private Water (not Scottish Water supplies). They also provide advice and guidance on the improvement of Private Water Supplies including administering the Improvement Grant of up to £800 per property on behalf of the Scottish Government. There are XXXXX Private Water Supplies across Scotland.
Environmental Health carries out a number of functions to promote, improve and safeguard public health including monitoring nuisance, Private Water Supplies and Communicable Disease Control including food poisoning, enforcing the Smoking Ban and monitoring and advising in relation to Radon gas.
Radiation monitoring is undertaken across many parts of Scotland.
Environmental Health monitors and advises in relation to Radon Gas. Building Standards are responsible for ensuring buildings incorporate appropriate protection.
Environmental Health monitors and advises on reservoir safety and maintains a register of reservoirs across Scotland.
Environmental Health can provide advice regarding Septic Tanks although these are control by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Councils monitor classified shellfish harvesting areas and Health undertakes routine sampling of shellfish operators and producers. This work is funded by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Environmental Health enforces legislation relating to smoking in enclosed places (offices, pubs, clubs etc.).
Environmental Health inspectors will to offer advice and information during routine inspections and other visits.
Environmental Health enforces legislation relating to smoking in enclosed places (offices, pubs, clubs etc.)
Although Environmental Health can provide advice in relation to drinking water, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is the principle point of contact for water pollution issues.
Environmental Health advises in relation to Private Water Supplies and may be able to provide advice and testing in relation to public water drinking supplies.
We license and regulate premises and activities where animals are exhibited under zoo licensing.