Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The complainant submitted a request for information relating to birds DNA which was made up of various questions. The public authority declined to disclose the information, citing section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Subsequently the public authority considered the request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and cited regulation 12(4)(b). The Commissioner is satisfied that the public authority has applied regulation 12(4)(b) appropriately. He is also satisfied that the public interest in maintaining this exception outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. However he identified procedural shortcomings in the way in which the public authority handled the request for information. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2010/0180 struck out.