Access to Information

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information LogoOn 1 January 2005, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 came fully into force. These were followed by the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations which came into effect on 1 July 2005.  The purpose of this site is to explain what the pieces of information legislation mean, how to make a request or complaint about a request for information held by Animal Health, and how such a request/complaint will be handled.  The site also lists recent requests already processed.

Information Legislation

Requesting Information

A list of recently-answered Access to Information requests.

Before submitting a request, please check the Animal Health and Defra websites to see if the information is not already available there

To make an information request, please use the form here.[[Click Here]] 

If the request is for personal data in relation to prosecution or taxation, use a DPA Section 29 request form here.[[Click Here]]

Public Service Guarantee on Data Handling

Animal Health will process all requests for information in accordance with the appropriate piece of legislation, and will endeavour to provide a response within 20 working days of receipt of the request. 

The Animal Health Public Service Guarantee on data handling can be found here, with an explanation of the guarantees it contains here.

Welsh Language Scheme

The scheme is committed to the principle that in conducting public business in Wales, Animal Health will treat the English and Welsh Languages on a basis of equality. Learn more here

Animal Health Publication Scheme

The publication scheme is a guide to key information routinely published by or made
available from Animal Health. It focuses on information relating to our key executive,
advisory and promotional duties and also on the standards and guidance by which we make decisions.

Much more information about Animal Health is available by contacting our
Enquiry Service, via our website or our suite of publications.

Animal Health Publication Scheme can be found here pdf .

Fair Processing Notice (Data Protection Statement)

Animal Health's Fair Processing Notice (Data Protection Statement) can be found here. The Notice gives details of the purposes for which Animal Health gathers data and the use that may be made of that information, including who the information may be shared with.

The version of the notice for the GB poultry register can be found here.

Knowing More about You

If you’re one of our customers (i.e. an owner or keeper of livestock) you may already provide information to the Rural Payments Agency, the Scottish Government or the Welsh Assembly Government. We use this information to carry out our work, but it doesn’t fully meet our animal health needs.

Find out more here.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint, you should write to:

email: corporate.centre@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk who will arrange for an internal review of your case.

If you are unhappy with the result of your request responded to under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, you may request an internal review within two calendar months of the date of this letter. 

If your request was for information covered by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, your appeal must be received by Animal Health within 40 working days of the date of this letter.  Appeals received after these deadlines will not be accepted.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please note that generally the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted the Animal Health complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

On 1 January 2005, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 came fully into force. These were followed by the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations which came into effect on 1 July 2005.

To request information about the work of Animal Health under this legislation please contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office

For further information contact:

Further Information

Further information on Access to Information legislation can be found at:

EnglandEngland
ScotlandScotland
WalesWales

Page last modified: 11 April 2007
Page published: 2 April 2007

Animal Health is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also works on behalf of the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Food Standards Agency