Argyll and Bute Council’s Regulatory Services department includes environmental health and trading standards. Officers will be at the Business Support Fair on Wednesday November 2 to outline help available to local businesses.
‘Environmental Health enforces legislation. We have a clear enforcement role, in support of fair, safe service for customers,’ explains Alan Morrison, regulatory services manager. ‘We prefer to work with businesses so that enforcement action is not needed, so we provide advice and guidance to help businesses make sure they comply with what’s required. Increasingly local businesses are taking advantage of this free support and asking us for guidance at an early stage.’ Dalrannoch Foods Ltd has benefited from the help on offer. The business is expanding into new premises in Oban, offering a range of sandwiches, soups and freshly cooked ready meals.
‘We contacted both environmental health and trading standards as we wanted to ensure that we were complying.’ explains owner Aileen MacPhail. ‘They provided a professional and helpful service, offering clear guidance to help us meet all the current standards.’ Environmental Health enforces legislation which protects public health, safety and the environment. Their work comprises food safety, environmental protection, health and safety, public health, licensing standards and animal health. They also issue a number of licenses and registrations including caravan sites, riding establishments, houses in multiple occupation and private let accommodation. Key areas of recent support include advising new businesses, new product development in food safety, work related to the export market of fish and shellfish, and assisting organisers to plan for major events such as Tiree Music Festival and Oban Live. Trading Standards deals with a wide range of legislation relating to goods and services.