Adequacy Decision Granted by EU to UK

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced on 28 June 2021 that the European Union has adopted an Adequacy Decision which will allow data to “continue flowing freely into the UK”.

This is excellent news for businesses and follows over one year of negotiation between the European Union and the UK Government.  This is a particularly important piece of information as personal data can continue to “flow freely” between European countries and the UK.  This means your business can continue to receive personal data from the EU and EEA without having to put additional arrangements in place with European counterparts.  This is a significant step, and removes a good deal of red tape for businesses that could have potentially been required.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Oliver Dowden, commented,

“After more than a year of constructive talks, it is right that the European Union has formally recognised the UK’s high data protection standards.  This will be welcome news to businesses, support continued co-operation between the UK and the EU, and help law enforcement authorities keep people safe.  We will now focus on unlocking the power of data to drive innovation and boost the economy, while making sure we protect people’s safety and privacy”.

It is worth remembering that, whilst this ensures that data can flow freely between the European Union/EEA and the UK, this does not mean that data protection standards in the UK have dropped, and you are still required, as a business, to fulfil your GDPR obligations.

For further information on whether you are compliant with your data protection standards, please contact either nilsodonoghue@chadlaw.co.uk or NicholasWorsnop@chadlaw.co.uk