PART 3

Veterinary medicines
CHAPTER 2

International agreements: disclosure of information

Disclosure of information in accordance with international agreements
13
1
This section applies to information which a relevant authority holds in connection with veterinary medicines.
2
The relevant authority may disclose information to a relevant person outside the United Kingdom where—
a
the disclosure is required for the purpose of giving effect to an international agreement or arrangement concerning the regulation of veterinary medicines, and
b
the relevant authority considers that the disclosure is in the public interest.
3
The relevant authority may not disclose commercially sensitive information in reliance on subsection (2) unless the relevant authority—
a
considers that it is necessary to do so for the purpose mentioned in that subsection, and
b
is satisfied that the making of the disclosure is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by it.
4
Except as provided by subsection (5), the disclosure of information in accordance with this section does not breach—
a
an obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or
b
any other restriction on the disclosure of the information (however imposed).
5
Nothing in this section authorises a disclosure of information which—
a
contravenes the data protection legislation (but in determining whether a disclosure would do so, take into account the powers conferred by this section), or
b
is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
6
This section does not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed under any other enactment or rule of law.
7
In this section—
- “commercially sensitive information” means commercial information whose disclosure the relevant authority thinks might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates;
- “data protection legislation” has the meaning given by section 3(9) of the Data Protection Act 2018;
- “relevant authority” means—
  1. the Secretary of State, or
  2. the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland;
- “relevant person” means—
  1. the government of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom;
  2. a person who exercises functions on behalf of such a government;
  3. any other person who exercises functions or provides services relating to veterinary medicines in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom;
  4. an international organisation that exercises functions or provides services relating to veterinary medicines.