Environmental health

DISCLAIMER
The duties listed below are currently under review and have not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.

Enforce Food Safety Standards

Councils must make sure that food sold or served to the public is safe to eat.
Monitor and Improve Private Water Supplies

Councils must make sure private water supplies—those not provided by Scottish Water—are safe to drink.
Review and Assess Air Quality

Councils must regularly monitor air quality in their area and assess future trends.
Investigate and abate statutory nuisances caused by noise

Councils are responsible for addressing noise issues that amount to a statutory nuisance.
Regulate Noise from Commercial Premises and Construction Activities

Councils must address noise from businesses and construction sites when it amounts to a statutory nuisance.
Investigate and Take Action on Statutory Nuisances

Councils are responsible for protecting people from serious problems that can affect their health or quality of life.
Enforce Housing Standards Related to Environmental Health

Councils are responsible for making sure that homes—especially in the private sector—are safe and healthy to live in.
Respond to Public Health Incidents Linked to Environmental Hazards

Councils have a duty to respond when environmental hazards—like pollution, contaminated water, or unsafe housing—pose a risk to public health.
Enforce Anthrax Disease Control Measures

Councils must enforce anthrax disease control measures to protect public health and prevent the spread of infection among livestock and humans.
Enforce cattle identification and registration requirements

Councils must enforce cattle identification and registration requirements ensuring full traceability for disease control, food safety, and compliance with national regulations.
Protect public health and act to manage public health risks

Councils must protect public health and manage risks by identifying, assessing, and responding to hazards that could harm people in their area
Take reasonable measures to control and prevent infestations of rats and mice

Councils must take reasonable steps to keep their district free from rats and mice.
Enforce smoke-free legislation

Councils must enforce smoke-free rules to ensure that enclosed public spaces and workplaces remain free from tobacco smoke.
Enforce animal health and welfare law

Councils must enforce animal health and welfare law to ensure that animals are treated humanely and protected from harm.
Regulate and monitor animal by-products

Councils must regulate and monitor animal by-products to ensure they are handled, transported, and disposed of safely, preventing risks to public health and the environment.
Administer grants for private water supply improvements

Councils manage a government-funded scheme that helps households and businesses ensure their water supply is safe.
Maintain a register of cooling towers and evaporative condensers

Councils must maintain a register of cooling towers and evaporative condensers to help manage the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.
Enforce regulations on animal movements

Councils help protect animal welfare and prevent disease by making sure livestock movements follow the law.
Investigate food and waterborne disease outbreaks

Councils must act quickly when there are reports of illness linked to food or water.
Appoint an Agricultural Analyst

Councils must appoint an Agricultural Analyst to check the quality and safety of agricultural products such as animal feed and fertilisers.
Designate Firework Control Zones

Councils can create Firework Control Zones in specific places within their area.
Deal with seized protected animals

If a protected animal has been taken into possession by the Council, it has the power to take certain steps without the owner’s consent and without a court order, provided legal notice and appeal conditions are met.
Maintain an asbestos register and management plan

Councils are responsible for managing asbestos in non-domestic premises they own or control.
Maintain and manage local exhaust ventilation systems

Councils must ensure that any local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems, such as fume cupboards, used to control exposure to hazardous substances are properly maintained and tested.
Ensure gas safety in council premises

Councils must make sure all gas appliances, fittings, and flues in properties they own or manage are safe.
Enforce statutory grading and marking requirements for agricultural produce

Councils must ensure that any agricultural produce sold in their area follows the official rules on quality grades, labels and markings.
Trace and monitor diseased or suspect animals

Councils have a responsibility to help track animals that are known or suspected to be diseased.
Control Air Pollution

Councils must enforce measures to prevent and reduce air pollution by controlling smoke, grit, dust, and fumes from domestic and industrial sources.
Enforce Motorcycle Noise Controls

Councils must enforce rules that prevent the supply of motorcycle exhaust systems and silencers likely to cause excessive noise.
Maintain Public Registers of Environmental and Safety Notices

Councils must maintain and provide public access to registers of notices served under environmental and safety legislation.
Enforce Food Information Standards

Councils must enforce food information regulations to ensure consumers receive accurate and clear details about the food they buy.
Manage and Enforce Safety of Dangerous Substances

Councils must protect people from risks of fire and explosion caused by dangerous substances.
License and Regulate Explosives Storage

Councils must license and regulate the storage of explosives, including fireworks, to protect public safety.
Ensure Safe and Compliant Public Events

Councils must help ensure public events are safe and legally compliant.
Respond to Food Alerts and Incidents

Councils must respond promptly to food alerts and incidents to protect public health.
Protect public health at ports

Councils are responsible for protecting public health at ports and airports.
Enforce Waste-Related Statutory Nuisances and Issue Penalties

Councils can pursue and serve penalty notices for refuse abatement and controlled waste.
Enforce health and safety within allocated premises

Councils have a duty to enforce health and safety law in certain workplaces such as shops, offices, warehouses, and hospitality businesses.
License activities involving animals

Councils must license activities involving animals to ensure public safety, animal welfare, and compliance with legal standards.
License premises that keep dangerous wild animals

Councils must license premises that keep dangerous wild animals to ensure public safety and animal welfare.
License or register premises for the use of animals in performances

Councils must license or register premises for the use of animals in performances to ensure the welfare of animals and the safety of the public.
License and regulate petroleum storage

Councils must license and regulate the storage of petroleum spirit to protect public safety.
Publish prior Information notices in local print media

Councils must tell the public in advance about certain proposals or decisions that could affect them, and give people a fair chance to comment or object.
Ensure electrical systems in council premises are safe, inspected, and maintained

Councils must ensure that electrical wiring and equipment in buildings they own or manage are safe and properly maintained.
Undertake and record legionella testing and maintain water safety compliance

Councils have a responsibility to manage the risk of Legionella bacteria in water systems within buildings they own or control.
Oversee safety of sports grounds and regulated stands

Councils must set up a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to help make sure that sports grounds and certain spectator stands are safe for the public.
Inspect and enforce compliance with the tolerable standard

Councils are responsible for inspecting homes to ensure they meet the minimum legal standards for safety, comfort, and habitability.