Information Commissioner's Office

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

11 September 2008, Central government

The complainant requested information from the public authority relating to the number of notifications of replacement cattle ear tags received, broken down by manufacturer. The public authority provided some information but refused to release any information broken down to individual manufacturer level, citing the exemption at section 43 of the Act. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the public authority further cited the exemption at section 41 of the Act. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority breached section 1 of the Act by inappropriately citing the exemptions at section 43 and 41. Accordingly, the Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the information requested. In addition, the Commissioner considers that the authority breached the requirements of section 17 of the Act.

FOI 43: Upheld FOI 41: Upheld FOI 17: Upheld