Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 2018
Last Reviewed: June 2025
Controller: Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA)

1. Introduction

At FDEA, we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We collect business-related personal data, including:

• Your name
• Company name and address
• Company telephone number and email address
• Bank details (if you enter into a contract with us)
• Your stated interests in our services or events

We only collect data that is necessary to carry out our activities and provide you with relevant, timely information.

3. How We Collect Your Data

We collect your personal information in the following ways:

• When you provide it to us directly (e.g., during registration, by email, at events)
• When you sign up through our website: www.ukfdea.com
• When a third party provides it to us with your consent

4. Why We Use Your Data

We use your data to:

• Respond to your requests (e.g., send newsletters, register you for events)
• Fulfil contracts or deliver services you’ve requested
• Keep you informed about events and developments relevant to your business
• Tailor our communication based on your interests
• Comply with legal obligations

5. Legal Bases for Processing

We process your data under the following lawful bases:

• Consent – where you have actively agreed (e.g., signing up for newsletters)
• Contract – to fulfil our obligations (e.g., event participation, quotes)
• Legitimate Interests – to send relevant B2B marketing and industry information

We always balance our legitimate interests against your rights and will not send you communications if the impact on your privacy outweighs our need to contact you.

6. Marketing Communications

We may send you updates about our services, events, or industry news if:

• You’ve opted in to receive them; or
• You are a business contact and we believe they are relevant to your role

You can opt out at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or contacting us at fdeateam@ukfdea.com.

7. Data Sharing

We will never sell or rent your personal data.

We may share it in the following limited cases:

• Where required by law (e.g. tax, crime prevention)
• When you’ve given us clear permission
• If we run an event with partner organisations (we’ll always explain this in advance)

8. Data Retention

• Client data (i.e. those with a contract): Retained unless you ask us to delete it
• General contacts: Retained for up to 8 years from the last interaction or policy review (i.e., until at least June 2033), after which we will seek your consent to continue contact

9. Your Rights

You have the following rights under data protection law:

• Right to be informed – how your data is used
• Right of access – to see the data we hold on you
• Right to rectification – to correct inaccurate data
• Right to erasure – to ask us to delete your data
• Right to restrict processing – to limit how we use it
• Right to object – to stop direct marketing or processing
• Right to data portability – to request a copy in usable format
• Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling – if used

To exercise your rights, contact: fdeateam@ukfdea.com

You can also learn more by visiting the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
https://ico.org.uk

10. Website Information and Cookies

You can visit www.ukfdea.com without submitting personal data. However, if you sign up for our mailings, your contact details will be stored securely in our system.

Cookies: At present, we do not use tracking cookies or collect IP addresses. If this changes, we will update our cookie policy and seek your consent as required.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or your personal data, please contact: FDEAEmail: fdeateam@ukfdea.com
Website: www.ukfdea.com