Food sector to be contacted about data protection fees

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK regulator for data protection and information rights. In September 2021, they will be writing to the accommodation and food sector to remind you that you may have a legal responsibility to register with the ICO and pay the data protection fee. For most companies this is £35 or £55 per year when they pay by direct debit.

If you receive a letter, you should check if you need to pay and, if you believe you are exempt, you should let the ICO know by 8 October 2021. If you are not exempt, you will need to register through their website and pay the fee. If you don’t receive a letter, you may still be legally required to register so you should take steps to check whether you need to pay the fee.

There is more information specifically for care organisations the ICO’s website: Paying a data protection fee – accommodation and food

They also have a web hub designed for small and medium enterprises which has lots of tips and simple guides that you will find useful: SME web hub – advice for all small organisations | ICO

ICO’s SME Feedback Group

The ICO is inviting small organisations, including sole traders and small businesses, to be part of its SME online feedback group. As a member of the group, you’ll be contacted up to four times a year and asked for your views on some of the ICO’s products and tools before they’re launched. This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard and learn about the tools which can help businesses like yours to grow in confidence with your data protection compliance. You can find more information about what this involves in the ICO’s privacy policy. If you are interested in participating, please email [email protected] with the subject line “SME feedback group participant” or contact the ICO via the SME feedback group application form