The Environmental Health Division is reminding grocery store and supermarket owners and managers of their need to adhere to the Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations.

The Ministries of Education and Culture and Health and Social Development are inviting the public to tune in to CBN Channel 51 to learn more about the Healthy Lifestyle School Intervention Programme being implemented in public schools and how parents can make it a success.

Owners of food establishments on Virgin Gorda are informed that Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mrs. Yolanda Penn will hold office hours at the Environmental Health Division office on Thursday, October 15 from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 

The Environmental Health Division is issuing a notice to food establishments on Virgin Gorda that do not have a backup water supply that they should temporarily close until water service is restored.

Residents of the Virgin Islands will benefit from information on how to properly utilise pesticides, and manage and dispose of these products after they are expired, through activities in observance of Pesticides Awareness Week. 

The Department of Waste Management will be spearheading a cleanup campaign on Jost Van Dyke from July 4 to 6 in an effort to mitigate vector borne diseases like Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue Fever. 

The Virgin Islands community is being urged to continue their efforts to reduce mosquito breeding to prevent outbreaks of Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Virus and the new Zika Virus, which are all spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Awareness activities and events will be held throughout this month and will continue until the end of this year, as the Territory marks the 25^th anniversary of Environment Month.

The Environmental Health Division is notifying the public that service dogs are now allowed at food establishments.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Mr. Carnel Smith said a review was done on a decision taken by the department, to restrict the harboring of pets in all food establishments. He said the division has since made the decision to allow service dogs to accompany the disabled master to restaurants in the Territory.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development is asking  businesses that do not possess a trade license to function as a pharmacy to refrain from  importing and selling prescription only medications.