Information Commissioner's Office

Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

15 June 2016, Central government

The complainant has requested testing and approval documentation for a number of chain saws and brush cutters. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) refused the request under regulation 12(5)(a) – international relations, and 12(5)(c) – intellectual property rights. During the Commissioner’s investigation the VCA also applied the exception provided by regulation 12(5)(f) – interests of the person who provided the information, and, in respect of the names of junior officials, regulation 13 – third party personal data. The complainant has not contested the application of regulation 13. The Commissioner’s decision is the VCA is not entitled to rely on the exceptions provided by regulations 12(5)(a),(c) and (f). The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the approval documentation for the six products referred to in the request, apart from the limited redactions of personal data relating the VCA’s officers.

EIR 12(5)(a): Upheld EIR 12(5)(c): Upheld EIR 12(5)(f): Upheld