policy

Past NEHA Policies

NEHA has adopted many policies, many of which are no longer current. This page lists all the past NEHA policies, the ones no longer considered a current policy. But even though out-of-date, these policies convey the intents of the membership and environmental health community.

NEHA recommends the complete adoption and implementation of the current Food and Drug Administration model Food Code by all federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governmental agencies to promote the most current knowledge on food safety.

NEHA advocates for national, state, and local policies, regulations, research, and resources that will enhance the ability of environmental health professionals to regulate cottage foods and home-based restaurants in order to protect public health.

NEHA recognizes the scientific and public health evidence that pasteurization of milk is proven to be a sound method of preventing milk-borne disease.  

NEHA recommends the integration and adoption of uniform and current best practices in food safety by state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies, along with industry food safety professionals.

Environmental health is profoundly local and environmental health professionals mediate some of the most intimate parts of our lives: the food we place in our baby’s mouths, the control of insects like mosquitos, and the water that rehydrates children after play time. Environmental health professionals save money, saves lives and protect the future.

NEHA recognizes World Environmental Health Day. The practice of environmental health throughout the world is critical to the well-being of humankind and the protection of the earth’s resources.

NEHA asserts that employing credentialed REHS and RS staff working in well managed and effective programs results in an overall economic gain for the community based on disease prevention, extended lives, enhanced productivity, and reduced lost time from work. 

NEHA recently approved newly revised definitions of the terms “environmental health” and “environmental health professional” at the July 2013 board of directors meeting in Crystal City, Virginia.

NEHA Resolution that states that businesses or any individual engaged in production of non-TCS Food as part of a defined cottage foods industry should be registered with the appropriate state/local/tribal regulatory food safety or public health agency.

Dental caries and tooth decay are largely preventable disease processes that affect people without regard for age, race, ethnicity or income. Over the last six decades, community water fluoridation has contributed to reduced incidence, prevalence and severity of dental caries and tooth decay in the United States.

The destructive explosions and fire at the BP (formerly British Petroleum) Deepwater Horizon offshore well located off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico April 20, 2010 led to the tragic death of eleven workers and caused numerous additional injuries.

NEHA is very concerned that these two initiatives will result in the development of overlapping and conflicting model codes regulating the construction and operation of these facilities. Environmental health officials have historically worked closely with building officials in the plan review and construction inspection phases of the development or renovation of aquatic facilities including swimming pools, spas, water parks and interactive water features.

A 2001 report issued by the Pew Environmental Health Commission report called, “America’s Environmental Health Gap; Why the Country Needs a Nationwide Health Tracking Network for Disease and Exposures” stated that current tracking efforts are fragmented, uncoordinated, and inadequate. The Institute of Medicine also reported that there is too little attention to health aspects of environmental problems.