The future of the environmental health profession was heavily debated at conference this year. As one senior EHO told delegates: environmental health is at risk of becoming a "mundane" profession, carrying out "routine" jobs and EHOs need to stop feeling that they are doing inspections simply to meet government targets.
This is a view shared by Ian MacArthur who argues that the environmental health profession needs to unveil its adaptability, and engage with the wider public health agenda - rather than just concentrating on meeting imposed targets. Are you up to the challenge?
Camden is one council that is leading the way in forging external partnerships with the aim of furthering real health improvements in the community. Read about its successful drive to set up a much needed bone marrow donor recruitment clinic.
Also on the future of the profession, we publish the second of two articles commenting on the current status of environmental health education. Worryingly, of the 50 core environmental health staff based at UK universities, only six are active in the field of research. Harold Harvey believes that unless there is a push to increase research activity, environmental health might not survive as an academic subject. Where will the profession be then?
On a different note, we introduce the Government's BIO-WISE programme. Initially set up to encourage the wider use of biotechnology within industry, it can also offer practical advice to environmental health departments needing sustainable solutions for cleaning up contaminated land and meeting air pollution targets.
Elsewhere in this issue, Margaret Ryan looks at Haccp and the possibility of licensing in small food businesses. Could this approach to food safety create more problems than it solves?
And finally, keeping up-to-date with changes in legislation and legal issues is vital to enforcement activity, which is why EHJ is launching a new monthly legal column.

Tracey Khanna, Editor