Safe to Trade, the consumer food safety and hygiene standard, will be exhibiting at the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland’s (REHIS) 150th Anniversary Forum on 25 September, showcasing its governance-led framework, designed to deliver fairness, safety and public confidence on a wide scale.
The one-day forum, held at Apex Hotel in Edinburgh, marks a landmark moment for the environmental health sector, celebrating 150 years of progress while addressing the evolving challenges of public health in Scotland and beyond. Safe to Trade provides reassurance that food businesses are operating to the highest levels of safety and hygiene, including front-of-house cleanliness, allergen management, and food labelling – addressing key areas of consumer concern. By aligning with the latest food safety requirements and incorporating ongoing recommendations, it responds to growing demand for up-to-date and transparent information, strengthening trust between the public and food businesses.
Bringing together regulators, industry leaders and environmental health professionals, attendees will include representatives Rob Belton, Strategic Growth and Partnerships Director and Jennifer Smith, Regional Environmental Health Practitioner Manager, from Shield Safety – a certification body for Safe to Trade, with the forum offering vital opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
For Safe to Trade, it is a chance to highlight practical ways that it supports compliance, helps businesses meet public expectations, and reinforces regulatory oversight. Its approach delivers value across stakeholder groups – food businesses benefit from a clear framework that makes compliance easier, regulators gain confidence from reliable oversight, and consumers enjoy greater peace of mind when it comes to food safety.
The exhibition also underlines the wider importance of consistent standards in fostering consumer confidence. By bridging the gap between regulators and food businesses, Safe to Trade demonstrates how compliance can go beyond statutory requirements to deliver meaningful improvements in food safety and hygiene.
Rob Belton, Strategic Growth and Partnerships Director, Shield Safety, commented: “We’re proud to be supporting Safe to Trade at the REHIS 150th Anniversary Forum, a landmark event that brings together professionals committed to protecting public health. Safe to Trade provides a trusted platform for food businesses and regulators alike, and our presence at the forum reflects our ongoing commitment to raising standards, supporting compliance and ensuring consumer confidence across the sector.
“We look forward to contributing to the discussions around the future of environmental health and food safety, and engaging directly with those who play such a vital role in protecting consumers.”
Aligned with the latest food safety regulations and incorporating best practices, Safe to Trade enhances consumer confidence by addressing the growing demand for up-to-date food safety and hygiene information – particularly as consumers report feeling significantly more assured when food hygiene inspections are less than a year old*. Safe to Trade supports the existing Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, but with several key differences; it requires businesses to be checked annually across all areas of food safety and hygiene, including front-of-house cleanliness, allergen management, and food labelling – addressing key areas of consumer concern.
Safe to Trade was developed in collaboration with independent industry experts and regulators, with audits being conducted by highly trained, competent, and impartial Environmental Health Practitioners from Shield Safety, a certification body for Safe to Trade.
*Flanagan, M.A. and Soon-Sinclair, J.M. (2024) Consumers’ perceptions of regulatory food hygiene inspections of restaurants and takeaways, British Food Journal.