Can I complain if I am unhappy with the
Contact address:
Institute’s handling of my request for
AFBI FOI Officer
information?
Agri-food & Biosciences Institute
You have the right to complain to the Institute
if we do not deal with your request for
18a Newforge Lane,
information within the timescales set by the
Malone Upper
legislation, that is, normally not later than 20
Belfast,
working days after the date your enquiry is
BT9 5PX
received by the Institute. You also have the
right to complain if you are dissatisfied with our
Northern Ireland
response to your request for information.
Tel:02890255636
If you wish to complain please write to The
Review Section at the address at the back of
Email: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
The Right !
the leaflet. Normally you will receive a reply
writing 20 working days after the date your
Please note that you must provide us with a
complaint is received. If you are still dissatisfied
to Know
after the internal review you can request a
name and address (or email address) to
review by the Information Commissioner at the
enable us to respond to your request.
Public Information Leaflet
address below.
Where can I get more information about
FOI and EIRs?
You can get more information from the Office
of the Information Commissioner.
The Information Commissioner’s details are:
Website:
www.ico.gov.uk
Note: This guide provides
Tel:
0303 123 1113
a brief outline of your rights
Email:
xxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
under the Freedom of
Post:
Information Commissioner,
Information Act 2000 and
Wycliffe House,
Environmental Information
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Regulations 2004 and how
CHESHIRE SK9 5AF
we will deal with your request
For information on how we handle your
for information. This leaflet
personal data, read our Privacy Notice at
should not be regarded as a
www.afbini.gov.uk/publications/afbi-privacy-
legal interpretation
notice-requests-information
12.13.755
What is the right to know?
gather, or if we have to consider if providing it
What happens if the information I want is
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI)
is in the public interest, or if we are waiting for
not available?
and the Environmental Information Regulations
you to pay a fee.
The legislation does not require us to gather or
2004 (EIRs) came into effect on 1 January
create information that is not already there. We
2005. The legislation gives you the right to
It will help us to process your request more
will contact you and tell you what information
request information held by a wide range of
quickly if you are as specific as possible about
we do hold that might help to answer your
public authorities.
what information you want. Sometimes we
query or suggest another public authority which
might have to contact you in order to clarify
may hold the information you want.
What information can I obtain?
exactly what information you are interested in.
The legislation enables you to get information
Can I have any information at all?
to help you to understand better how this
What are exemptions?
The legislation allows you access to most of
Institute works, how we spend public money,
Both the FOI Act and the EIRs contain a
the information that a public body holds, but
and how and why we make our decisions. EIRs
number of exemptions (in the EIRs they are
there are some things that are exempt from
provide access specifically to “environmental
called “exceptions”) allowing the Institute to
release.
information”.
withhold information in certain circumstances.
However, most of the information held by the
For example:
You can also get information under the Data
Institute will not be subject to exemptions.
Protection Act 2018 (DPA) which, amongst
• Information about national security, law
other things, gives individuals access to their
Is there a cost for getting information?
enforcement or personal information (you
own personal information. The DPA applies to
This depends on a number of factors including
can obtain your own personal information
private enterprise as well as public authorities.
the volume of material requested. Responses
through the DPA)
to enquiries that cost the Institute less than
How do I get information held by the
£4501 to process will normally be provided
• Personal information supplied by, or in
Institute?
free of charge, although there may be a small
relation to, third parties may be available
If you have access to the Internet, you can get
charge for the costs of photocopying, printing
only in certain circumstances.
information using the request form which can
and postage.
be found in the Access to Information section
• The Institute is not obliged to send you
of the Institute website at www.afbini.gov.uk.
The Institute has the right to refuse to respond
information that is already available
Alternatively, you can write to us at the address
to a request that is estimated to cost more
elsewhere e.g. in our publication scheme on
on the back of this leaflet. Environmental
that £450 to process unless the request is for
our website at www.afbini.gov.uk
information can be requested verbally or in
information covered by EIRs, in which case
writing.
the Institute has to process the request if you
What if I am refused information?
are prepared to pay the costs. If the cost is
If we decided not to disclose some information
How long does it take to get information?
greater than £450 and you agree to pay the
because it is exempt, we will explain to you
The legislation requires us to respond to your
costs, the Institute will provide you with the
why it is being withheld.
request for information as soon as possible
information unless it is covered by an
and not later than 20 working days after the
exception.
date of receipt. The timescale may have to be
extended if the information requested is very
extensive and therefore takes a long time to
1Includes the cost of finding, sorting or redacting the material
