Last updated on 8 January 2010

Our information charter

We need to handle personal information about you so that we can provide services for you. This explains how we look after that information.

When we ask you for personal information, we promise:

  • to make sure you know why we need it
  • to only ask for what we need, and not to collect too much or irrelevant information
  • to protect it and make sure nobody has access to it who shouldn’t
  • to let you know if we share it with other organisations to give you better public services – and if you can say no
  • to make sure we don’t keep it longer than necessary
  • not to make your personal information available for commercial use without your permission

In return, we ask you to:

  • give us accurate information
  • tell us as soon as possible if there are any changes, such as a new address

This helps us to keep your information reliable and up to date.

You can get more details on:

  • how to find out what information we hold about you and how to ask us to correct any mistakes
  • agreements we have with other organisations for sharing information
  • circumstances where we can pass on your personal information without telling you, for example, to prevent and detect crime or to produce anonymised statistics
  • our instructions to staff on how to collect, use and delete your personal information
  • how we check the information we hold is accurate and up to date
  • how to make a complaint

For more information, please contact the FSA Data Protection Officer:

Samantha Dunwell
Information & Knowledge Management Team
Foss House
Peasholme Green
York YO1 7PR

tel: 01904 455119
email: information.management@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

If your concerns cannot be resolved informally with the person or team concerned, you can make a formal complaint by contacting the Complaints Co-ordinator:

FSA Complaints Co-ordinator
Food Standards Agency
Correspondence, Openness and Parliamentary Branch
2C Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
Tel: 020 7276 8612
E-mail: openness.team@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

When we ask you for information, we will keep to the law, including the Data Protection Act 1998. For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, you can contact the Information Commissioner at:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF

tel: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
fax: 01625 524510

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