Animal and Plant Health Agency

The complainant requested information in relation to photos of farmed salmon and salmon farms from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. APHA confirmed that it does not hold any photographs taken during inspections and therefore no correspondence relating to those photos was held either. APHA confirmed it does hold photos received as part of welfare allegations/complaints from third parties however it withheld this information under section 31(1)(g) with subsection 2(a), section 40(2) and section 43 FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that APHA has correctly applied section 31(1)(g) with subsection 2(a) FOIA to the withheld information. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken.