Environmental Health Bill, 2026
Government bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability
Withdrawn. Withdrawn by the Government for further amendments and consultation; expected back in the New Year (sitting of 2 October 2026). Reported by Radio Cayman.
What this bill does
This bill creates a new, standalone Environmental Health Act setting out the powers of the Department of Environmental Health over statutory nuisances, food safety, air quality, noise, garbage, hazardous waste, swimming pools and the handling of human remains. It gives Environmental Health Officers inspection, seizure and notice powers, lets the Director seek Grand Court closure orders of up to six months, and introduces fixed penalties as an alternative to prosecution.
- New food offences: making food harmful carries up to CI$10,000 and two years' jail; selling food likely to harm health carries up to CI$5,000 and 12 months; selling unfit or misleadingly described food carries up to CI$2,000 and six months
- Harmful noise or vibration is an offence (up to CI$5,000 and three months); officers or police can order noise reduced and seize equipment for up to three working days, with CI$1,000 and one month for ignoring an order
- Listed 'potentially health-impacting trades' (salons, barbers, tattooing, piercing, construction, mining, waste management and others) face a CI$5,000 and 12-month offence if run in a way likely to harm health, and employers must carry out health risk assessments
- Ignoring an improvement or desist notice costs CI$2,000 plus CI$200 a day; swimming pools can be closed for up to 14 days (CI$5,000 fine for non-compliance); fixed penalties of up to CI$10,000 can be set by regulation
Who it affects: restaurants and food businesses, salons, barbers and tattoo studios, construction and industrial firms, pool operators, property owners and occupiers, residents affected by noise or nuisances
This summary is AI-generated from the official document and may contain errors; it is not legal advice. Always consult the source text below.