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MLA Privacy Policy

Background

This is the privacy policy of the MLA Group, which consists of Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 (MLA) and its subsidiaries, Integrity Systems Company Limited ABN 34 134 745 038 (ISC) and MLA Donor Company Limited ABN 49 083 304 867 (MDC).  In this policy the MLA Group may be referred to as “we” or “us”.

The MLA Group respects the privacy of individuals. This policy sets out how we collect, store, use and disclose personal information.

If you are an individual in the United Kingdom (UK) or you are otherwise interacting with an MLA office in the UK, this notice sets out how we collect and process your personal data and our legal basis for doing so. For the purpose of applicable data protection laws, including GDPR, the data controller is Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd, Level 1,Australia Centre, Melbourne Place, Strand, LondonWC2B 4LG, United Kingdom. Throughout this policy, the references to ‘personal information’ can be read as ‘personal data’ for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

Where sections of this policy are specific to individuals in Australia, we have indicated this by referring to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (“the Privacy Act”). Where sections of this policy are specific to users in the UK, we have referred to the GDPR.

Types of personal information collected

The personal information the MLA Group collects depends on the nature of your interaction with us. The personal information collected can include, but is not limited to:

  • your name, contact details such as your phone number, address, email address, Australian Business Number (ABN), business name and general information about your livestock and business operations;
  • your passport or visa details;
  • credit card details if you are purchasing a product or service;
  • information from your résumé or job application if you have applied for a job with MLA Group; or
  • sensitive information about you (discussed below)

You do not have to provide your personal information to us but, if you do not provide the information requested, we may not be able to manage your membership, provide you

with its products and services or process your job application. Data from any member's participation in research, surveys, or similar activities is either not shared or is de-identified before sharing.

Personal information collected in the normal course of business for the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) by ISC is collected, held, used and disclosed pursuant to this privacy policy. However, personal information collected for the NLIS may also be subject to additional terms contained in the relevant terms of use which can be found here: NLIS Terms of Use . In the event of any inconsistency between this privacy policy and the NLIS Terms of Use, the NLIS Terms of Use will apply to the extent of the inconsistency.

Sensitive Information 

Sensitive information is information about you that reveals your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or affiliations, membership of a professional or trade association, membership of a trade union, sexual orientation, criminal record or information about you which is health information or genetic information or biometric information that can be used to identify you.

MLA Group will only collect your sensitive information where you have consented, or where required by law. If we hold any sensitive information, that information will only be used and disclosed by us for the purpose for which it was provided or other purposes permitted by law. If we ask for sensitive information, we will explain the reason for this request.

Method of collection of personal information

We collect your personal information directly from you, including but not limited to, when you:

  1. apply for a job with us;
  2. attend an event;
  3. create an account through the MLA Group platforms including myMLA, NLIS, Meat Standards Australia (MSA), LPA, Sheep Genetics, MyFeedback or the Aussie Meat Trade Hub;
  4. interact with us in person, over the phone or online;
  5. participate in a questionnaire or survey;
  6. submit a completed form;
  7. access our websites;
  8. attend one of our offices;
  9. respond to an expression of interest;
  10. complete an online MLA calculator;
  11. participate in a MLA program;
  12. participate in a MLA competition;
  13. subscribe to a mailing list; or
  14. supply goods or services to us (including on behalf of your employer).

Collection from third parties

We may also collect your personal information from third parties. We collect your personal information from these third parties so that we can meet our membership and legal obligations.

Purposes for holding and using personal information

The MLA Group uses the personal information that it collects for the purpose for which it was provided to us. MLA Group’s general purposes for using and disclosing the personal information that it collects include:

  1. providing products and services that you have requested and responding to your enquiries. We need to process your data in this way in order to perform our contractual obligations to you in relation to products and services you have requested. In relation to your enquiries, it is in our legitimate interest to use your personal data to respond to you;
  2. administering MLA Group’s programs and dealing with stakeholders. It is in our legitimate interest to use your information to administer our programs;
  3. keeping MLA's or ISC’s members, levy payers and relevant members of the public informed of MLA’s or ISC’s business and issues relating to the red meat and livestock industry. It is in our legitimate interest to contact you with news about the industry;
  4. conducting specific projects in which you have chosen to participate. We need to process your information in this way in order to perform our contractual obligations to you in relation to the specific project;
  5. administering competitions. We need to process your information in this way in order to perform our contractual obligations to you in relation to your entry into any competitions;
  6. administering events. We need to process your information in this way in order to perform our contractual obligations to you in relation to your participation in a relevant event. It is also in our legitimate interest to process your information in order to register your acceptance for, and your attendance at, an event;
  7. if you are a member of MLA Group, managing your membership with MLA Group in relation to MLA’s annual general meeting;
  8. where you have provided consent, sending marketing material to you that MLA Group considers will be useful to you. For further information, please refer to the Direct Marketing section of this policy;
  9. complying with legal requirements. We will process your information where necessary to comply with a legal obligation to which we are subject;
  10. administering the NLIS, LPA, MSA, Aussie Meat Trade Hub and myFeedback databases. It is in our legitimate interest to use your information to administer our databases;
  11. analysing how our products and services (including any websites) are used to understand the effectiveness of our communications. It is in our legitimate interest to use your information for those purposes;
  12. personalising the service or communication we provide to you and tailor your experience on our website. It is in our legitimate interest to use your information to personalise service and communications to you;
  13. investigating, detecting and protecting MLA Group and third parties against, negligence, breach of contract, fraud, theft and other illegal activities;
  14. responding to and managing enquiries, complaints, feedback and claims. It is in our legitimate interest to use your information to respond to and manage enquiries, complaints, feedback and claims;
  15. if you are dealing with us on behalf of a third party service provider, supplier, partner or agent, management of agreements with these third parties; and
  16. if you have applied for a job with us, assessing your suitability for employment and communicating with you during the recruitment process.

 

Other uses of personal information – direct marketing

Providing information to you is very important to us. As part of this service, we may use your personal information to identify a product or service that you may be interested in. We may, with your consent, use the contact details you have provided to contact you from time to time whether by phone, email, SMS or post to tell you about products or services that we believe may be of interest to you.

You can opt-out of receiving direct marketing communications from us at any time by contacting us directly by emailing privacy@mla.com.au or by using the unsubscribe facility in the electronic communication you receive.

Disclosure of personal information

Depending on your interaction with the us, your personal information may be disclosed to:

  1. MLA Group's related entities, international offices, and representatives for the purpose of MLA Group’s business only;
  2. as required by law and the Department of Primary Industries in your state or territory;
  3. users searching the Red Meat Exporters Database, the Sheep Genetics Database or other databases on our websites. Your personal information is only disclosed through this search if you have provided explicit consent for this disclosure;
  4. individuals who make a request in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Act”), as we are required to disclose our member register upon request (provided the purpose is in line with our Act and not prohibited);
  5. AUS-MEAT for the purpose of an audit;
  6. third party service providers for the purpose of MLA Group’s business only, including specialist advisers to MLA Group who have been engaged to provide us with legal, risk, audit, administrative, financial, insurance, research, information technology, marketing, communications or other services;
  7. if you apply for a job with us, third party service providers and referees that verify the information you’ve provided in your job application; and
  8. any other person authorised, implicitly or expressly by you when the personal information was provided or collected by us.

Overseas Disclosure (where the Privacy Act applies to the personal information)

For individuals in Australia, the MLA Group and its related entities may disclose your personal information to third-party service providers operating outside Australia who work with MLA Group or one of our suppliers, agents, or partners.

Some of the MLA Group's related entities, international offices and representatives to whom it may disclose your personal information are located overseas in countries such as Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam and Asian regions such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Transfers and storage of personal data outside the EEA (where the GDPR applies)

Where the GDPR applies, the personal data that we collect may be transferred to, and stored at, a destination outside the European Economic Area (EEA), including countries which have different data protection standards from those which apply in the EEA. The countries to which your personal data may be transferred, and in which it may be stored, include Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam and Asian regions such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. Your personal data may be processed by staff outside the EEA who work for us or for one of our suppliers engaged in the processing of your personal details. We will take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure your personal data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws and will not transfer personal data outside the EEA unless necessary to conclude or for performance of a contract with you, or in your interests, or with your consent.

Access to personal information (where Privacy Act applies)

For users in Australia where the Privacy Act applies, you may request access to your personal information that we hold about you by contacting us using the contact details below.

We will process such requests within a reasonable time and may charge a fee for providing access to cover the costs of verifying the application and retrieving the information requested.

If we deny an access request, we will provide reasons for doing so.

Correction of personal information (where Privacy Act applies)

For users in Australia where the Privacy Act applies, MLA Group should be promptly notified if there are any changes to an individual’s personal information by contacting us using the contact details below.

You may ask us at any time to correct personal information held us about you, by using the contact details set out in the “Contact Us” section below.

Access to personal data (only where GDPR applies)

Under the GDPR (to the extent it applies to our website, and to you), you have the right to:

  • Access. You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we are processing about you, which we will provide back to you in electronic form. For your own privacy and security, in our discretion we may require you to prove your identity before providing the requested information. If you require multiple copies of your personal data, we may charge a reasonable administration fee.
  • Rectification. You have the right to have incomplete or inaccurate personal information that we process about you corrected. Note that you can always make certain adjustments to certain personal information directly through your online account.
  • Deletion. You have the right to request that we delete personal information that we process about you, except we are not obligated to do so if we need to retain such data in order to comply with a legal obligation or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
  • Restriction. You have the right to restrict our processing of your personal information where you believe such data to be inaccurate, our processing is unlawful or that we no longer need to process such data for a particular purpose, but where we are not able to delete the data due to a legal or other obligation or because you do not wish for us to delete it.
  • Portability. You have the right to obtain personal information we hold about you, in a structured, electronic format, and to transmit such data to another data controller, where this is (a) personal information which you have provided to us, and (b) if we are processing that data on the basis of your consent (such as for direct marketing communications) or to perform a contract with you.
  • Objection. Where the legal justification for our processing of your personal information is our legitimate interest, you have the right to object to such processing on grounds relating to your particular situation. We will abide by your request unless we have compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests and rights, or if we need to continue to process the data for the establishment, exercise or defence of a legal claim.
  • Withdrawing Consent. If you have consented to our processing of your personal information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, free of charge. This includes cases where you wish to opt out from marketing messages that you receive from us. 

You can make any of these requests in relation to your personal data by sending the request by email to privacy@mla.com.au

How to make a complaint (where Privacy Act applies)

For individuals in Australia, if you wish to make a complaint about our handling of your personal information, please contact us by using the contact details below.

We will investigate all complaints and respond to you as soon as practicable. We will contact you if it requires any further information from you and will notify you in writing of the outcome of the investigation. If you are not satisfied with our determination, you can contact us to discuss your concerns or contact the Office of the Australian Privacy Commissioner via www.oaic.gov.au. 

How to make a complaint (where GDPR applies)

For users in the UK where the GDPR applies, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the local data protection authority if you believe that we have not complied with applicable data protection laws. If you are based in, or the issue relates to, the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted as follows:

elephone: +44 0303 123 1113

Email: casework@ico.org.uk

Website: www.ico.org.uk

Web-form: www.ico.org.uk/concerns/

Address: Water Lane, Wycliffe House, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

If you are based in, or the issue you would like to complain about took place, elsewhere in the EEA, please click here for a list of local data protection authorities in the other EEA countries.

Changes to this policy

We may amend this policy from time to time, and the amended policy will be published on our websites. Please review our websites periodically for changes to this policy.

Contact us

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or MLA Group's privacy practices or you would like to access your personal information or request that we correct your personal information, please contact us:


Last updated May 2025