Animal Health - Data Protection Act
Fair Processing Notice

Defra, Welsh Assembly Government Department for Environment Planning and Countryside (WAG DEPC), State Veterinary Service (SVS) and Local Authorities (LAs) including the Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) are joint data controllers.

LAs delivering services in relation to animal health & welfare in England & Wales operate under a Framework Agreement between Defra, WAG and LACORS on behalf of LAs. Individual LAs can enter data on the enforcement activities they undertake in to AMES. This data will include details of when, where and what was checked for compliance, the outcome of the checks, and any actions taken.

The purpose of AMES is to provide live enforcement information for LAs, which are the primary statutory enforcement bodies in relation to Animal Health & Welfare. AMES is also used to provide management information in the form of reports to all the parties under the Framework Agreement. Defra, WAG DEPC, SVS, LACORS and individual LAs can all access AMES to view the data and can produce reports which can include personal details.

The information, including your personal data, may be used for other purposes, including being passed to other organisations. For example:

• To Welsh Assembly Government’s Rural Payment’s Division and/or Rural Payments Agency for cross-compliance purposes. (Cross compliance is a series of standards that farmers need to meet in order to receive their subsidy payment in full. There are two main elements, Statutory management requirements (SMRs) and Good agricultural and environment condition (GAEC) standards.)
• To other local authorities for enforcement and compliance purposes.
• Defra and WAG may use the information to produce aggregated statistics that will not identify individuals. However, if the information relates to an individual convicted in a court of law of offences under Animal Health & Welfare related legislation, Defra will publish the personal details. This report is published to Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, and is available via the Defra and WAG public websites and Defra publications department).

Defra, WAG or a Local Authority may be required to release information, including personal data and commercial information, on request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However, Defra or WAG will not permit any unwarranted breach of confidentiality nor will we act in contravention of our obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Defra or its appointed agents may use the name, address and other details held on AMES to contact you in connection with occasional customer research aimed at improving the services that Defra provides to you. These details may also be used to contact you with information on changes that may affect you, for example regarding public consultations and/or to advise you of new legal requirements or to provide you with Defra publications such as guidance leaflets.

If you wish to obtain a copy of your personal data held by Defra, please click here and follow the procedure at Defra’s public service guarantee on data handling, which gives details of your rights in respect of the handling of your personal data is also available on this website. If you don’t have access to the internet, please telephone the Defra helpline 08459 33 55 77 and ask to speak to the Data Protection Officer.

If you believe that any of the information we hold concerning you on AMES is incorrect or out of date, please provide us with the accurate information in writing together with supporting evidence (if appropriate). You should address your correspondence to: Delivery Partners Coordination Unit, Area 701, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ, or email ames@defra.gsi.gov.uk

North Somerset Council, Trading Standards Service, Somerset House, Oxford Street, Weston super Mare, Somerset, BS23 1TG
Telephone: 01275 888634    Fax: 01275 888683
Electronic Mail: trading.standards@n-somerset.gov.uk