Monthly report on Environmental Health Directorate activities

In its effort to keep the public informed with monthly summaries of activities undertaken within the Superintendence of Public Health, the Environmental Health Directorate released a summary of actions taken during July, 2012.

More than 500 improvement notices were issued, 24 outlets visited, one HACCP audit performed while 12 undertakings were issued.

Almost 2 tonnes of foodstuffs were destroyed, four Legionella audits carried out, 13 swimming pools were audited during six audits and three schools were inspected.

More than 10 schools were inspected, 12 abatement notices issued, 40 food consignments imported were inspected, and four consignments of tattoo equipment were also withheld. Almost 2570 notifications for importing or trading food into Malta were made, 20 Ship Sanitation certificates issued, 94 applications were processed and 812 control cards for narcotics and psychotropic substances were issued.

More than 140 illegal tobacco related adverts and one illegal tattoo advert were removed, 756 samples were elevated and analysed, 12 citations issued or processed, and 806 complaints lodged with the Health Inspectorate.

From these complaints, 755 were environmental health related most commonly due to the presence of pests, infiltrations, accumulation of refuse, foul smells, keeping of animals in unhygienic conditions and discharge of foul water.

The Environmental Health Directorate reminded the public that the Health Inspectorate Services can be contacted between 7:00am and 3:00pm on telephone number 21337333, by calling personally at its offices at Continental Business Centre, Cutrico Buildings, Old Railway Track, Santa Venera or by email [email protected].

For further information, the public is also encouraged to visit the Directorate’s website at URL: https://ehealth.gov.mt/HealthPortal/public_health/environmental-health/department_for_env_health.aspx or on its facebook page on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Environmental-Health-Directorate-Malta/145027878928626