Guidance

Defra and executive agencies employee and contractor privacy notice

How we collect and use our employee and contractor personal data for recruitment and employment purposes.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 1 November 2022
• Last updated: 21 July 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 21 July 2026

     New information added under the list 'We may also use your personal data to’. This includes information about the Synergy Programme and the migration of SOP (HR) data from one system to a new provider.

  2. 5 June 2026

     The postmaster@vmd.gov.uk email address is no longer in use. The email was replaced with a link to VMD's contact page on the Welsh page.

  3. 13 May 2026

     The postmaster@vmd.gov.uk email address is no longer in use. The email was replaced with a link to VMD's contact page.

  4. 4 November 2024

     Added Welsh translation, 'Hysbysiad preifatrwydd i gyflogeion a chontractwyr Defra'.

  5. 30 September 2024

     We’ve updated this privacy notice. It now applies to all current and former employees and contractors of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and its 4 core agencies – the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Together these 5 organisations form a single legal entity and Data Controller.

  6. 25 April 2024

     Added section on use of artificial intelligence.

  7. 10 April 2024

     Updated sections on how we collect personal data, how we use personal data and legal basis for processing your personal data.

  8. 25 August 2023

     Updated the addresses in the section on 'Who collects your personal data'.

  9. 2 December 2022

     Added a section about how we keep your personal data secure.

  10. 1 November 2022

      First published.

Documents

Defra and executive agencies employee and contractor privacy notice

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Details

This privacy notice explains how we collect and use our workers’ personal data. It applies to current and former employees and contractors of:

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
• Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)