Health « Thurles Information

Named Smoke Flavourings, No Longer Permitted In Food.

SF-007 & SF-010 No Longer Permitted In Food.

Smoking is traditionally used to help preserve certain foods such as fish, meat and dairy products and the smoking process also changes the flavour of foods. Smoke flavourings are produced by thermal degradation of wood and can be added to a range of different foods to give a “smoked” flavour.

All smoke flavourings need to be authorised for use before they can be placed on the EU market. There are currently 10 smoke flavourings authorised for use in the EU. These authorisations will expire on January 1st 2024. Renewal applications must have been submitted 18 months before the authorisation expires, i.e., June 2022.

Two smoke flavourings, SF-007 (Tradismoke™ A MAX) and SF-010 (AM 01) have not applied to renew their authorisation and as a result, will no longer be authorised for use in the EU,with effect from January 1st 2024.

[The authorisation holders for SF-007 (Tradismoke™ A MAX) and SF-010 (AM 01) is Nactis in France and AROMARCO, s.r.o, in Slovakia, respectively].

According to the provisions of Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) 2065/2003 no products containing SF-007 or SF-010 should be placed on the market* after the December 31st 2023. Products still under processing or raw materials provided by suppliers containing these two SF are also not permitted for use in the EU from January1st 2024.

Foods containing SF-007 or SF-010 that were placed on the market* prior to 1 January 2024 may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or ‘use by’ date.

* “Placing on the market” includes all sales and supplies, including one-off sales, one-off supplies free of charge, and holding food for the purpose of sale. It covers food products which have already been produced by food business operators or imported and are being held with a view to sale or supply free of charge.

Half Of Septic Tanks Fail Inspection In 2022 With 20% A Risk To Human Health.

Half of septic tanks failed inspection in 2022 with 20% identified as a risk to human health and the environment.

Enforcement by local authorities of failed septic tanks is inconsistent, with the lowest rates of Septic Tank failures fixed being in Tipperary, Roscommon, Waterford and Leitrim.

Over 1,100 septic tank inspections were completed by local authorities in 2022. Inspections by Clare, Waterford and Offaly Councils last year were well below their requirements.

Domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS), mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2022. The EPA examined the 1,143 inspections of domestic waste water treatment systems completed by local authorities in 2022. Some 49% (560) of the treatment systems failed inspection because they were not built or maintained properly. Some 20% or (230) of treatment systems inspected were considered a risk to human health or the environment, because faulty systems can contaminate household drinking water wells and pollute rivers.

Commenting on the report, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said, “Faulty septic tanks are a risk to human health and the environment. If not built and operated properly, they can pollute watercourses and contaminate household drinking water wells with harmful bacteria and viruses. Where septic tanks are not functioning properly, it is critical that householders fix the problems to protect their family’s health, and the environment.”

Where septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The report found that there were 550 cases where issues notified to householders over two years previously had still not been addressed. The septic tank grant scheme, offers grants up to €5,000 to assist in addressing malfunctioning systems. Over 200 grants, totaling nearly €1 million were awarded in 2022.

Criticism of Tipperary Co. Council.

Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said, ‘It is unacceptable that failed septic tanks have not been fixed more than two years after inspection. Half of these involve sewage surfacing in gardens and discharging to ditches and streams, which are health risks that cannot be allowed to continue. Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities, particularly in Tipperary, Roscommon, Waterford and Leitrim, to ensure failed systems are fixed to protect human health and the environment.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published in 2021. The plan increases inspections from 1,000 to 1,200 from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by five local authorities in 2022 and these need to be completed in 2023. Inspections are focused near rivers where there is greater risk to water quality, and areas with shallow soils where there is greater risk to household wells.

The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections in 2022, is available on the EPA’s website.

For Further information: Contact Emily Williamson EPA Media Relations Office Tel: 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

Cocaine Use On Increase In Co. Tipperary.

Co. Tipperary came fourth, behind counties Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, when it came to calculating the number of people obtaining treatment for cocaine addiction last year (2022).

Some 144 people; an increase of 30 over the previous year’s figures (2021), were identified, at yesterday’s meeting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

The figures quoted, at the meeting, were based on observations by an Garda Síochána; latter operating on the ground locally.

An Garda Síochána report that cocaine, in Ireland, is now foolishly accepted as being often “okay” and “great craic”, despite the drug’s significant impact on Irish family life, employment, escalating community crime, and personal relationships; with serious abusers of the drug often refusing to seek professional assistance, resulting in serious addiction, homelessness and often death.

Child Airlifted To Dublin Hospital.

A child has been airlifted to hospital in Dublin, following a fall at Main Street, Carricik-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary on Monday afternoon last.

We understand the child, a male aged 3 years, fell from a flat roofed building and was removed to CHI (Children’s Health Ireland), Temple Street, Dublin, to be treated for his injuries.

Gardaí assisted emergency services at the scene of the incident, at approximately 3:15pm on Monday last, June 19th, 2023, before the child was transferred by air ambulance to CHI at Temple Street Dublin.

We understand the child remains in a stable condition.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service Seek Donations At Thurles Clinics.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (ITBS) has issued a strong appeal to people to give blood at four clinics here in Thurles Co. Tipperary in the coming week.

The service had already issued an alert on May 29th last, following blood levels in hospitals having run critically low, over the past number of weeks.

IBTS need to collect an extra 400 donations per week during the month of June and is therefore appealing to local blood donors to make a special effort to attend at upcoming clinic dates.

Note: New blood donors are welcome.

Blood can be given at The Dome, Semple Stadium, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 26th – June 29th from 4:50pm to 8:10pm.

For Appointments: Please call Tel No -1800 222 111.