Guidance

Pet travel scheme privacy notice

Updated 30 September 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-and-plant-heath-agency-privacy-notices/pet-travel-scheme-privacy-notice

Your data is being collected by

The data controller is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for personal data that you give to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

APHA is an Executive Agency of Defra. You can contact APHA’s Data Protection Manager by email at: data.protection@defra.gov.uk

APHA also works with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who are joint controllers with APHA for any relevant personal data.

Any questions about how Defra and APHA are using your personal data and your associated rights should be sent to APHA’s Data Protection Manager by email at: data.protection@defra.gov.uk.

The Data Protection Officer responsible for monitoring that Defra and APHA are meeting the requirements of the legislation can be contacted by email at: data.protection@defra.gov.uk

What personal data is collected

We collect the following items of personal data:

  • name
  • address
  • contact details
  • details of the live animals for which you are the owner and/or keeper

How your data has been obtained

Your data may be provided to APHA by an agent acting on your behalf when applying for travel documentation.

Why APHA is using your data

APHA has a statutory requirement to collect and use personal data to provide documentation for verification and validation of:

  • the lifelong pet travel document
  • pet and applicant details

This documentation facilitates the non-commercial movement of pet and assistance animals within the territory of the United Kingdom.

Where required by law, data may be published on UK Government or EU websites.

More information about APHA can be found at gov.uk/apha.

Legal bases for processing include:

  • the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller
  • for compliance to a legal obligation on the controller
  • the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering a contract
  • consent has been given to process data for one or more specified purposes

Collection of your data is a statutory requirement to enable APHA to issue documentation to facilitate the non-commercial movement of pet and assistance animals within the territory of the United Kingdom.

Consequences of not providing the necessary data

For statutory and public interest purposes it is necessary to provide data as stated in the relevant legislation.

For a current list of legislation managing International Trade visit www.legislation.gov.uk.

Who APHA shares your data with

Personal data may be made available to local authorities and other public bodies in the UK and EU to meet legal requirements.

We may share data with Defra and its agencies, Welsh Government, Scottish Government, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and other organisations, and enforcement authorities.

We may have to release information (including personal data and commercial information) under the following legislation:

  • UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
  • Data Protection Act 2018
  • Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Environmental Information Regulations 2004

We will not allow any unwarranted breach of confidentiality and we will not act in contravention of our obligations under UK data protection legislation.

Storing and using personal data outside the UK

A very small percentage of government records containing personal information are selected for permanent preservation at the National Archives. They are made available in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as amended by the Data Protection Act 2018.

The data you provide will largely not be transferred outside of the EEA.

How long APHA holds personal data for

Retention periods are set by considering statutory, regulatory, legal, and security reasons, alongside historic value.

All information in APHA is held in accordance with our retention policy. If you would like more information contact enquiries@apha.gov.uk.

Your rights

Find out about your rights under data protection law.

Complaints

You have the right to lodge a complaint about the use of your personal data at any time with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO – the data protection supervisory authority).

APHA’s personal information charter

APHA’s personal information charter broadly sets out details of APHA’s processing of personal data.

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