SEED CERTIFICATION ON-LINE PRIVACY POLICY
This statement explains how Defra uses information you provide over the
internet and the ways in which it protects your privacy.
1. The Data Protection Act
We have a legal duty to protect your information. We maintain strict security
standards and procedures to prevent unauthorised access to your data. We use
leading technologies including digital certificates and encryption to further
safeguard your data.
When you phone or email the PVS Helpdesk, personal data will be stored on a
database to enable us to deal with your query efficiently and track its
progress. This data will be made available to our contractors to help solve any
query you have raised.
Data held will include your full name, business address, phone number and email
address. Details of the IT equipment you are using, the exact query and other
important information we feel is relevant to the query will also be stored.
Section 7 of the Data Protection Act gives you, the Data Subject, the right of
access to your personal details. In most instances we will automatically email
you a copy of what data has been stored in connection with your query. If you
do not receive this email please contact the PVS Helpdesk on 01223 342379 to
request this information. For more information on Public Service Guarantee on
Data Handling please follow this link
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/policy/opengov/defra/your-info/handling-guarantee.htm.
Any data will be held on the system even after the query has been completed.
Saved data will enable us to deal more effectively with similar queries in the
future.
2. Payment Services
We allow applicants to pay for the seed certification service via the
Government Gateway using credit or debit cards. For security reasons we do not
retain any of the card information.
3. Sharing of information
No new information is shared with any government department or third party. The
only information that is transferred is :-
-
Between the Government Gateway and Defra - the known facts that you have
provided. For further information see the Government Gateway privacy policy on
http://www.gateway.gov.uk/
-
Between Defra and NIAB who maintain the seed certification database on behalf
of Defra.
4. Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored locally on your computer, either in memory
or on the hard disk when you connect to Defra systems. The information on a
cookie is not linked to any personally identifiable information you submit to
our site and they are destroyed when you log out from Defra web sites or close
your browser window.
Most internet browsers (for example, Internet Explorer) are set up to
automatically accept cookies, but you can change your settings to prevent this.
However, if you choose not to accept cookies you will not be able to access
some Defra web sites as we need to use cookies to manage your session.
5. Log files
Log files record all access to Defra web sites and also track transactions made
using some systems. Web site log files are used for statistical purposes such
as trends analysis. Transaction log files are used for auditing purposes and
may contain personally identifiable information. Log files are stored securely.
6. Notification of changes to this privacy policy
If this privacy policy changes in any way, an updated version will be placed on
this page. Regularly reviewing this page ensures you are always aware of what
information is collected, how it is used, and under what circumstances, if any,
it is shared with other parties.
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