Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The complainant has requested Defra to disclose information relating to phosphate mitigation and the nutrient neutrality policy for the Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas. Defra refused the requests citing regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR (manifestly unreasonable).The Commissioner’s decision is that Defra is entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR for both requests and the public interest rests in maintaining the exception. The Commissioner does not require further steps to be taken.