The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, Number SC009406. On occasion, the Institute uses the acronym 'REHIS'.

The objects for which the Institute is established are for the benefit of the community to promote the advancement of Environmental Health by:

1. stimulating general interest in and disseminating knowledge concerning Environmental Health;
2. promoting education and training in matters relating to Environmental Health; and
3. maintaining, by examination or otherwise, high standards of professional practice and conduct on the part of Environmental Health Officers in Scotland

The objectives of the Institute are achieved in a number of ways including:

• holding an Annual Conference, courses and meetings at which papers are presented and professional subjects are discussed.
• publishing an Annual Report on Environmental Health in Scotland.
• making representations to government departments and other bodies on environmental health matters and submitting observations on the content of proposed legislation.
• working closely with universities and colleges on the content of courses to prepare students for their future role as qualified officers.
• appointing representatives to working groups and advisory bodies which are set up to report and advise on a wide range of environmental health matters
• membership of the Institute is open to persons who are suitably qualified and who work in either the community health, environmental health or public health services or are engaged in commercial or industrial activities associated with environmental health. Elected members of local authorities, health boards and persons with an interest in environmental health are also eligible for associate membership.

The Institute has over 1,000 members of whom the majority are Environmental Health Officers, many of whom are employed by Scottish local authorities.

What is Environmental Health?

Environmental Health has been defined by in the Old Report 2006 (commissioned by REHIS) as:

"Environmental health is that area of Public Health activity which strives to improve, protect & maintain health & well being through action on the physical environment and on life circumstances."

Membership

Membership is open to all persons with an interest in Environmental Health in its widest sense including Environmental Consultants, Meat Inspectors, Food Safety Officers, Medical Practitioners, Veterinarians, Local Authority Elected Members, Environmental Health Officers and persons working in Local Authorities, the armed forces, training bodies and other Government Agencies, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

The Institute represents around 1,000 Environmental Health Officer and non-Environmental Health Officer members thus representing a broad church of environmental health interests . The majority of members are Environmental Health Officers who work in the Scottish local authorities but an increasing number work outwith the local authority in organisations such the Food Standards Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Health Protection Scotland and the armed forces. Environmental Health Officer members also work in the private sector in a range of consultancies. A large proportion of members are non-Environmental Health Officers, from a range of backgrounds, who work as Enforcement Officers and Food Safety Officers with local authorities, private consultancies, training organisations and the Meat Hygiene Service as Meat Inspectors.

Advantages of Membership

• Opportunities to meet and liaise with organisations and individuals and colleagues representing the Environmental Health professions.
• Members receive the quarterly REHIS Journal, Environmental Health Scotland.
• Members can attend seminars and training events on a wide range of Environmental Health topics, at reduced rates and some at no charge at all.
• Members can attend the Institute's Annual Conference and Centre meetings.
• Members can make input into government and other organisations' consultations.
• Dependent on the category of membership, Corporate Members are able to use the appropriate designatory letters after their name.
• Members can attend the Annual General Meeting and Corporate members can vote for Council members and matters of Institute policy.
• Members can participate in a Scheme of Continuing Professional Development.
• Members who are Environmental Health Officers have the opportunity to become Chartered Environmental Health Officers.

Categories of Membership

There are four categories of membership:

• Ordinary Member (Environmental Health Officer) is a Corporate grade which is open to Environmental Health Officers.
• Ordinary Member (Other than Environmental Health Officers) is a Corporate grade which is open to persons with professional qualifications broadly commensurate with those required by an Environmental Health Officer.
• Associate is a Non-Corporate grade open to any person having, by reason of post or employment, an interest in Environmental Health.
• Student membership is available to students following a course of study leading to the Institute's Diploma in Environmental Health. This is a Non-Corporate grade.

For a membership application pack please contact the Institute's office.

Chartered EHOs

Environmental Health Officers who have been members of good standing for three years or more and have the Certificate of Compliance with the Institute's Scheme of Continuing Professional Development, may be granted Chartered Status. Further details are available from the REHIS office.