Latest news with #Regulations2024
New Straits Times
08-08-2025
- New Straits Times
Illegal exotic fish trade busted in Klang, threatening ecosystem
SHAH ALAM: A shop owner in Klang has been caught keeping and selling various prohibited fish species, including piranhas and alligator gar, from South America. The Selangor Fisheries Department (DoF) seized an estimated RM18,000 worth of the prohibited fish from the premises, which were found to be in violation of the Fisheries (Prohibition of Import of Fish) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. The raid was conducted by DoF officers at 11am on Wednesday, following a public tip-off. Selangor DoF director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said inspections revealed the shop owner was selling, rearing, storing, and displaying fish species in violation of the regulations. "The seized species included 10 Flower Horns, 15 Amazon Catfish, one Alligator Gar, three Piranhas, 45 Silver Dollars, 16 Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, and 12 Leopard Catfish," she said. Noraisyah said that despite repeated warnings, some traders continue to sell and display banned ornamental fish. She added that possession of these prohibited species without proper approval would result in legal action. "DoF Selangor stresses that these rules must not be taken lightly, as the species in question are listed as capable of disrupting the aquatic ecosystem balance and dominating the state's river waters," she said.
Borneo Post
07-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Tagada mishap: DOSH says Kuching Fest amusement rides not registered, no valid certificate of fitness
Three visitors suffered minor injuries in the mishap. — Photo from Facebook/Amelia Lim Wen Ching KUCHING (Aug 7): The faulty tagada amusement ride, which injured three Kuching Festival visitors on Aug 2, did not have a valid certificate of fitness (CF) nor was it registered with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). DOSH Sarawak said the Ferris wheel at the site also requires a CF under the Guidelines on the Safety Management of Amusement Park Devices (2008). 'The department denies any claims that either of these amusement rides had been inspected by its officers. 'To date, no application has been received from the amusement park operator to operate these rides,' it said in a statement. DOSH pointed out failure to register the rides constitutes an offence under the Occupational Safety and Health (Machinery Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024. Three prohibition notices have also been issued to the employer involved. 'The case is being investigated under Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514). 'Legal action will be taken against those found responsible for any violations of the Act. 'Under this legislation, the maximum penalty for employers found guilty is RM500,000,' said the department. DOSH Sarawak also called on all amusement park operators and event organisers to ensure that all theme park machinery is installed securely, maintained properly, and complies with established safety standards to safeguard public health and safety. Around 9.40pm on Aug 2, three individuals sustained minor injuries after a tagada amusement ride collapsed at the Kuching Festival site near Dewan Masyarakat MBKS. Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said all three victims were treated on-site by Malaysian Red Crescent first aiders. Following the incident, MBKS instructed the contractor to shut down the entire fun ride area and called on DOSH to conduct a safety inspection of the rides. Related story: Three injured in Kuching Fest tagada ride mishap, safety probe underway DOSH Sarawak Kuching Festival 2025 tagada amusement ride
Borneo Post
07-08-2025
- Borneo Post
Tagada mishap: Dosh says amusement rides not registered, no valid certificate of fitness
Three visitors suffered minor injuries in the mishap. — Photo from Facebook/Amelia Lim Wen Ching KUCHING (Aug 7): The faulty tagada amusement ride, which injured three Kuching Festival visitors on Aug 2, did not have a valid certificate of fitness (CF) nor was it registered with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh). Dosh Sarawak said the Ferris wheel at the site also requires a CF under the Guidelines on the Safety Management of Amusement Park Devices (2008). 'The department denies any claims that either of these amusement rides had been inspected by its officers. 'To date, no application has been received from the amusement park operator to operate these rides,' it said in a statement. Dosh pointed out failure to register the rides constitutes an offence under the Occupational Safety and Health (Machinery Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024. Three prohibition notices have also been issued to the employer involved. 'The case is being investigated under Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514). 'Legal action will be taken against those found responsible for any violations of the Act. 'Under this legislation, the maximum penalty for employers found guilty is RM500,000,' said the department. Dosh Sarawak also called on all amusement park operators and event organisers to ensure that all theme park machinery is installed securely, maintained properly, and complies with established safety standards to safeguard public health and safety. Around 9.40pm on Aug 2, three individuals sustained minor injuries after a tagada amusement ride collapsed at the Kuching Festival site near Dewan Masyarakat MBKS. Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said all three victims were treated on-site by Malaysian Red Crescent first aiders. Following the incident, MBKS instructed the contractor to shut down the entire fun ride area and called on Dosh to conduct a safety inspection of the rides. Dosh Sarawak Kuching Festival 2025 lead tagada amusement ride
ITV News
31-07-2025
- ITV News
Undercover filming shows disposable vapes being illegally sold in Wales despite ban
More than 1,000 disposable vapes have been seized across Wales despite it being illegal to sell them, an ITV Cymru Wales investigation has found. Data gathered from Freedom of Information requests and local authorities show that 1,383 single-use vapes have been seized by trading standards departments across Wales since the ban came in two months ago. Since 1 June this year, the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 make it a criminal offence to supply a single-use vape in Wales. Trading Standards in Anglesey have seized the most at 430, followed by Cardiff at 323, and Rhondda Cynon Taf in third with 242. Secret filming footage shows our journalists were able to buy disposable vapes at five shops in just one postcode district of Cardiff. At the first shop, we were looking at the display on the outside, when a member of staff told us not to look there as not all of the flavours were displayed. We went inside and asked a second member of staff: 'Do you have any Lost Marys or Elf Bars?" The shop assistant showed us the selection and we picked out which flavours we wanted. We asked: 'These aren't the ones you have to fill up?' She said: 'No, for one time use.' She sold us a Lost Mary Berry Apple Peach flavour which was also past its expiry date and an Elf Bar Lemon Lime, which was actually legal and reusable, although she told us it was for one-time use. We left the shop and walked around the corner to another business. There were disposable Lost Mary vapes on display. We asked the shop assistant: 'Can I have a Lost Mary please?' He took it out of the display case to sell. We asked: ' That's the one I don't have to fill up, isn't it?' He responded: 'That's the old one.' He sold us a Lost Mary Berry Apple Peach flavour, which is disposable. At two other shops on the same street, we were able to buy disposable vapes. At one, there weren't any disposable vapes on display, but when we asked for a specific brand, the shop assistant went into a back room and brought back a cardboard box full of single-use vapes for us to choose from. Both the vapes he sold us were also past their expiry date. At the other shop, the assistant sold us a vape he claimed was re-fillable, but it is in fact a single-use product. We got back in the car and drove to another street, around 10 minutes away. When we got there, we asked a shop assistant: 'Can I get a Cola Lost Mary please?' The assistant took it down from the shelf for us. We asked: 'Have you got to refill those ones?' He said: 'No.' We clarified: 'One time?' He said: 'Disposable.' He sold us a 'LAST MARY' Cola Vape, instead of the well-known Lost Mary brand. This product also had no expiry date. He also sold us an Elf Bar Elfturbo Ice vape which expired on 4 October, 2024 . ITV Wales has contacted all the businesses that sold us disposable vapes for a response, but none replied. There is no suggestion that any of the manufacturers like Lost Mary or Elfbar have committed a crime by making these products. Disposable vapes are legal to sell in many countries, including Portugal, Greece, Italy and Germany. It's a problem which is taking up unprecedented amounts of time, says Judith Parry, the manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf Trading Standards. "It is a massive problem," she says. "It's probably been taking 60 to 80 percent of our time over the past couple of years, it's probably come down since the single-use vapes ban came in, but we're still getting quite a wide amount of seizures. "I can't remember a time when something was taking up so much of our time for a prolonged period." But the task isn't as simple as it looks, she says. "Once you're in there it's not just going in and seeing them on the shelves and taking them, but it's having a good look for where they might be concealed. We go in with detection dogs as well which can sniff out the vapes so we can find where they're being hidden, but sometimes they're using adjoining premises, or hiding them in vehicles. "Some retailers are buying re-usable vapes now, but maybe not stock rotating so they've still got disposables on the back of their shelves. So those businesses we might give a warning to, seize the vapes, and destroy them. "But at others, some have been found in concealments in the back of shops. Hidden using hydraulic opening mechanisms, so those are the premises that know exactly what they're doing, and they're the ones we'd like to see some action taken against. That might be a closure order if we have sufficient evidence or taking them to court for prosecution." She admits it's a battle trading standards will have a hard time winning. "As quick as we're seizing them, they're re-stocking, unfortunately," she says. "It's too big a task. Next year we should get the tobacco and vapes bill enabled and that will help a little bit more. Hopefully we'll have more strings to our bow to go and take action."
South Wales Argus
28-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Viral video shows rubbish dumped into River Usk, Newport
The footage, posted on Facebook on July 26, shows a woman emptying a large carrier bag of waste directly into the river. The fly-tipping incident happened in broad daylight, along a section of the river in the city centre and near Newport's Riverfront Theatre. Newport City Council has condemned the act of fly-tipping, describing it as "a blight on the environment and communities." The council has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway, and Natural Resources Wales, along with Fly-Tipping Action Wales, have been informed. The rubbish that was dumped in the river in the video (Image: Supplied) A spokesperson for Newport City Council said: "[[Newport City Council]] is investigating the incident and has informed NRW and Fly-Tipping Action Wales. "We absolutely condemn fly-tipping as it is a blight on the environment and communities. "There is no excuse for it. "A wide range of items that can be recycled are collected weekly from people's homes in the city." The council also highlighted their efforts in combating fly-tipping in the city, stating a significant increase in enforcement action and a reduction in incidents. They urged residents to report any instances of illegally dumped waste through their website or by calling 01663 656656. Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said in an official Cabinet statement: "Littering and fly-tipping is a blight on our communities. "It costs money to remove and damages our environment. "Yet it is completely avoidable, and everyone stands to gain from a clean and safe environment. He continued: "We are working with communities, businesses, organisations, and local authorities to provide cleaner and greener natural spaces to improve people's mental and physical well-being." Mr Irranca-Davies also mentioned the legislative efforts to curb the issue, including the introduction of The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 and The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wet Wipes) (Wales) Regulations 2025. He added: "Whilst legislation can provide an effective deterrent, it cannot operate in isolation. "We continue to provide grant funding to partners such as Keep Wales Tidy and Fly-tipping Action Wales, who work with organisations and communities to help educate and encourage positive behavioural change." Fly-tipping Action Wales is working in conjunction with local authorities to improve the quality and robustness of the annual data published on Stats Wales. This initiative aims to give local authorities a better understanding of the types of incidents occurring, so they can work with communities to target specific hotspots. There was a variety of rubbish dumped into the river (Image: Supplied) The Deputy First Minister further stated the importance of enforcement action, acknowledging its complexity and challenges. He said: "Fly-tipping Action Wales continue to support local authorities with their investigations, including providing access to free legal advice from specialist environmental lawyers and offering dedicated enforcement officer support." The council's crackdown on fly-tipping extends beyond mere enforcement. In 2024, Keep Wales Tidy was funded to develop a new litter survey methodology. The Geospatial Litter Analysis (GLN) tool expands on the existing litter data and monitoring system to better reflect the scale and scope of litter and related issues. So far this year, an area greater than 1 million metres squared has been surveyed. Keep Wales Tidy has also been instrumental in supporting community groups, with 1,334 registered litter champions and 245 litter hubs. Their initiatives aim to improve the local environment and encourage others to take action. The ongoing efforts highlight the importance of preventing the illegal disposal of waste in the first place. In 2024-25, Keep Wales Tidy worked with local authorities on more than 500 occasions on practical improvements to local neighbourhoods. The forums helped identify litter and fly-tipping hotspots, leading to targeted clean-ups and local campaigns. The council believes that consistent collaboration with local authorities, businesses, private landowners, third sector organisations, and communities is laying the foundations for preventing littering and fly-tipping in Wales.
