The proposed Microchipping of all dogs involves National scale databases of tens of millions of people not of dogs per se.
DEFRA estimates there to be about 8 million dogs, with about 6.7 million in England. That must mean that there will be several million dog owners who will be forced to keep their details up to date on these databases.
These databases are partly or wholly run by the charity / private sector.
There has been no Privacy Impact Assessment made of the possible effects on tens of millions of innocent, law abiding dog owners when not if, their names and addresses etc. are handed over to pet food marketing companies and to the police etc. for enquiries which have nothing to do with dogs ata all.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare & Dangerous Dogs Team
Area 8B, 9 Millbank
c/o 17 Smith Square
London , SW1P 3JR
Telephone 08459 33 55 77
Website www.defra.gov.uk[name]
[postal address]Our ref: RFI 4741
email: [email address]
10 May 2012Dear [name]
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENT RELATING TO
PROPOSALS TO TACKLE IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIPThank you for your request for information about a privacy impact assessment (PIA) relating to the proposal to introduce compulsory microchipping of all puppies, as contained the Defra consultation document launched on 23 April 2012, which we received on 24 April 2012. We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Specifically, you made the following request:
"Any Privacy Impact Assessments
http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/topic_guides /privacy_impact_assessment.aspx
or similar documents or reports, regarding the proposed compulsory microchip dog owner registration databases, as described in the "Tackling irresponsible dog ownership" policy consultation
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/04/23/dangerous-dogs-1204/."
I am writing to inform you that a privacy impact assessment was not carried out in relation to the proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs. However, four impact assessments were carried out and are included in the consultation package, including one relating to the proposal to microchip dogs. Copies of the four impact assessments can be found on the Defra website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/04/23/dangerous-dogs-1204/
In keeping with the spirit and effect of the FOIA, all information is assumed to be releasable to the public unless exempt. Therefore, the information released to you may now be published on our website together with any related information that will provide a key to its wider context.
I attach Annex A, which explains the copyright that applies to the information being released to you.
I also attach annex B giving contact details should you be unhappy with the service that you have received.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.
Yours sincerely
[name of civil servant]
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