CODE
FOR THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION, CAN/CSA-Q830-96:
4.1
Principle 1 - Accountability
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. is responsible for
personal information under its control and shall designate an individual or individuals
who are accountable for Great Wall Herbal Ltd. compliance with the following principles.
4.1.1
Accountability for Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s compliance with the
principles rests with the designated individual(s), even though other individuals
within the Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may be responsible for the day-to-day collection
and processing of personal information. In addition, other individuals within
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may be delegated to act on behalf of the designated individual(s).
4.1.2
The identity of the individual(s) designated by Great
Wall Herbal Ltd. to oversee Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s compliance with the principles
shall be made known upon request.
4.1.3
Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. is responsible for personal information in its possession or custody, including
information that has been transferred to a third party for processing. The Great
Wall Herbal Ltd. shall use contractual or other means to provide a comparable
level of protection while the information is being processed by a third party.
4.1.4
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall implement policies and
practices to give effect to the principles, including
(a) implementing procedures
to protect personal information;
(b) establishing procedures to receive and
respond to complaints and inquiries;
(c) training staff and communicating
to staff information about the Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s policies and practices;
and
(d) developing information to explain the Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s policies
and procedures.
4.2 Principle 2 - Identifying Purposes
The
purposes for which personal information is collected shall be identified by the
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. at or before the time the information is collected.
4.2.1
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall document the purposes for which
personal information is collected in order to comply with the Openness principle
(Clause 4.8) and the Individual Access principle (Clause 4.9).
4.2.2
Identifying the purposes for which personal information is collected
at or before the time of collection allows Great Wall Herbal Ltd. to determine
the information they need to collect to fulfil these purposes. The Limiting Collection
principle (Clause 4.4) requires Great Wall Herbal Ltd. to collect only that information
necessary for the purposes that have been identified.
4.2.3
The identified purposes should be specified at or before the time of collection
to the individual from whom the personal information is collected. Depending upon
the way in which the information is collected, this can be done orally or in writing.
An application form, for example, may give notice of the purposes.
4.2.4
When personal information that has been collected is to be used for a
purpose not previously identified, the new purpose shall be identified prior to
use. Unless the new purpose is required by law, the consent of the individual
is required before information can be used for that purpose. For an elaboration
on consent, please refer to the Consent principle (Clause 4.3).
4.2.5
Persons collecting personal information should be able to explain to
individuals the purposes for which the information is being collected.
4.2.6
This principle is linked closely to the Limiting Collection
principle (Clause 4.4) and the Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention principle
(Clause 4.5).
4.3 Principle 3 - Consent
The knowledge and
consent of the individual are required for the collection, use, or disclosure
of personal information, except where inappropriate.
Note: In certain
circumstances personal information can be collected, used, or disclosed without
the knowledge and consent of the individual. For example, legal, medical, or security
reasons may make it impossible or impractical to seek consent. When information
is being collected for the detection and prevention of fraud or for law enforcement,
seeking the consent of the individual might defeat the purpose of collecting the
information. Seeking consent may be impossible or inappropriate when the individual
is a minor, seriously ill, or mentally incapacitated. In addition, Great Wall
Herbal Ltd. that do not have a direct relationship with the individual may not
always be able to seek consent. For example, seeking consent may be impractical
for a charity or a direct-marketing firm that wishes to acquire a mailing list
from another Great Wall Herbal Ltd... In such cases, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. providing
the list would be expected to obtain consent before disclosing personal information.
4.3.1
Consent is required for the collection of personal
information and the subsequent use or disclosure of this information. Typically,
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. will seek consent for the use or disclosure of the information
at the time of collection. In certain circumstances, consent with respect to use
or disclosure may be sought after the information has been collected but before
use (for example, when Great Wall Herbal Ltd. wants to use information for a purpose
not previously identified).
4.3.2
The principle requires
``knowledge and consent''. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall make a reasonable effort
to ensure that the individual is advised of the purposes for which the information
will be used. To make the consent meaningful, the purposes must be stated in such
a manner that the individual can reasonably understand how the information will
be used or disclosed.
4.3.3
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall
not, as a condition of the supply of a product or service, require an individual
to consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of information beyond that required
to fulfil the explicitly specified, and legitimate purposes.
4.3.4
The form of the consent sought by Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may vary, depending
upon the circumstances and the type of information. In determining the form of
consent to use, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall take into account the sensitivity
of the information. Although some information (for example, medical records and
income records) is almost always considered to be sensitive, any information can
be sensitive, depending on the context. For example, the names and addresses of
subscribers to a newsmagazine would generally not be considered sensitive information.
However, the names and addresses of subscribers to some special-interest magazines
might be considered sensitive.
4.3.5
In obtaining consent,
the reasonable expectations of the individual are also relevant. For example,
an individual buying a subscription to a magazine should reasonably expect that
Great Wall Herbal Ltd., in addition to using the individual's name and address
for mailing and billing purposes, would also contact the person to solicit the
renewal of the subscription. In this case, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. can assume that
the individual's request constitutes consent for specific purposes. On the other
hand, an individual would not reasonably expect that personal information given
to a health-care professional would be given to a company selling health-care
products, unless consent were obtained. Consent shall not be obtained through
deception.
4.3.6
The way in which Great Wall Herbal Ltd.
seeks consent may vary, depending on the circumstances and the type of information
collected. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. should generally seek express consent when the
information is likely to be considered sensitive. Implied consent would generally
be appropriate when the information is less sensitive. Consent can also be given
by an authorized representative (such as a legal guardian or a person having power
of attorney).
4.3.7
Individuals can give consent in many
ways. For example:
(a) an application form may be used to seek consent, collect
information, and inform the individual of the use that will be made of the information.
By completing and signing the form, the individual is giving consent to the collection
and the specified uses;
(b) a checkoff box may be used to allow individuals
to request that their names and addresses not be given to other organizations.
Individuals who do not check the box are assumed to consent to the transfer of
this information to third parties;
(c) consent may be given orally when information
is collected over the telephone; or
(d) consent may be given at the time that
individuals use a product or service.
4.3.8
An individual
may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions
and reasonable notice. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall inform the individual of the
implications of such withdrawal.
4.4 Principle 4 - Limiting Collection
The collection of personal information shall be limited to that which is necessary
for the purposes identified by the Great Wall Herbal Ltd.. Information shall be
collected by fair and lawful means.
4.4.1
Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. shall not collect personal information indiscriminately. Both the amount
and the type of information collected shall be limited to that which is necessary
to fulfil the purposes identified. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall specify the type
of information collected as part of their information-handling policies and practices,
in accordance with the Openness principle (Clause 4.8).
4.4.2
The requirement that personal information be collected by fair and lawful means
is intended to prevent Great Wall Herbal Ltd. from collecting information by misleading
or deceiving individuals about the purpose for which information is being collected.
This requirement implies that consent with respect to collection must not be obtained
through deception.
4.4.3
This principle is linked closely
to the Identifying Purposes principle (Clause 4.2) and the Consent principle (Clause
4.3).
4.5 Principle 5 - Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention
Personal information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than those
for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required
by law. Personal information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the
fulfilment of those purposes.
4.5.1
Great Wall Herbal Ltd.
using personal information for a new purpose shall document this purpose (see
Clause 4.2.1).
4.5.2
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. should develop
guidelines and implement procedures with respect to the retention of personal
information. These guidelines should include minimum and maximum retention periods.
Personal information that has been used to make a decision about an individual
shall be retained long enough to allow the individual access to the information
after the decision has been made. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may be subject to legislative
requirements with respect to retention periods.
4.5.3
Personal
information that is no longer required to fulfil the identified purposes should
be destroyed, erased, or made anonymous. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall develop
guidelines and implement procedures to govern the destruction of personal information.
4.5.4
This principle is closely linked to the Consent principle
(Clause 4.3), the Identifying Purposes principle (Clause 4.2), and the Individual
Access principle (Clause 4.9).
4.6 Principle 6 - Accuracy
Personal information shall be as accurate, complete, and up-to-date as is necessary
for the purposes for which it is to be used.
4.6.1
The extent
to which personal information shall be accurate, complete, and up-to-date will
depend upon the use of the information, taking into account the interests of the
individual. Information shall be sufficiently accurate, complete, and up-to-date
to minimize the possibility that inappropriate information may be used to make
a decision about the individual.
4.6.2
Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. shall not routinely update personal information, unless such a process is
necessary to fulfil the purposes for which the information was collected.
4.6.3
Personal information that is used on an ongoing basis, including
information that is disclosed to third parties, should generally be accurate and
up-to-date, unless limits to the requirement for accuracy are clearly set out.
4.7 Principle 7 - Safeguards
Personal information shall be
protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
4.7.1
The security safeguards shall protect personal information
against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use,
or modification. Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall protect personal information regardless
of the format in which it is held.
4.7.2
The nature of the
safeguards will vary depending on the sensitivity of the information that has
been collected, the amount, distribution, and format of the information, and the
method of storage. More sensitive information should be safeguarded by a higher
level of protection. The concept of sensitivity is discussed in Clause 4.3.4.
4.7.3
The methods of protection should include
(a) physical
measures, for example, locked filing cabinets and restricted access to offices;
(b) Great Wall Herbal Ltd. measures, for example, security clearances and limiting
access on a ``need-to-know'' basis; and
(c) technological measures, for example,
the use of passwords and encryption.
4.7.4
Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. shall make their employees aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality
of personal information.
4.7.5
Care shall be used in the
disposal or destruction of personal information, to prevent unauthorized parties
from gaining access to the information (see Clause 4.5.3).
4.8 Principle
8 - Openness
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall make readily available to individuals
specific information about its policies and practices relating to the management
of personal information.
4.8.1
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall
be open about their policies and practices with respect to the management of personal
information. Individuals shall be able to acquire information about Great Wall
Herbal Ltd. policies and practices without unreasonable effort. This information
shall be made available in a form that is generally understandable.
4.8.2
The information made available shall include
(a) the name or title,
and the address, of the person who is accountable for Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s
policies and practices and to whom complaints or inquiries can be forwarded;
(b) the means of gaining access to personal information held by Great Wall Herbal
Ltd.;
(c) a description of the type of personal information held by Great
Wall Herbal Ltd. including a general account of its use;
(d) a copy of any
brochures or other information that explain Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s policies,
standards, or codes; and
(e) what personal information is made available to
related Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s (e.g., subsidiaries).
4.8.3
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may make information on its policies and practices available
in a variety of ways. The method chosen depends on the nature of its business
and other considerations. For example, an Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may choose to
make brochures available in its place of business, mail information to its customers,
provide online access, or establish a toll-free telephone number.
4.9
Principle 9 - Individual Access
Upon request, an individual shall be
informed of the existence, use, and disclosure of his or her personal information
and shall be given access to that information. An individual shall be able to
challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended
as appropriate.
Note: In certain situations, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may
not be able to provide access to all the personal information it holds about an
individual. Exceptions to the access requirement should be limited and specific.
The reasons for denying access should be provided to the individual upon request.
Exceptions may include information that is prohibitively costly to provide, information
that contains references to other individuals, information that cannot be disclosed
for legal, security, or commercial proprietary reasons, and information that is
subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege.
4.9.1
Upon request, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall inform an individual whether or not
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. holds personal information about the individual. Great
Wall Herbal Ltd. are encouraged to indicate the source of this information. Great
Wall Herbal Ltd. shall allow the individual access to this information. However,
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. may choose to make sensitive medical information available
through a medical practitioner. In addition, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall provide
an account of the use that has been made or is being made of this information
and an account of the third parties to which it has been disclosed.
4.9.2
An individual may be required to provide sufficient information to permit
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. to provide an account of the existence, use, and disclosure
of personal information. The information provided shall only be used for this
purpose.
4.9.3
In providing an account of third parties to
which it has disclosed personal information about an individual, Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. should attempt to be as specific as possible. When it is not possible to
provide a list's of organizations to which it has actually disclosed information
about an individual, Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall provide a list of organizations
to which it may have disclosed information about the individual.
4.9.4
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall respond to an individual's request within
a reasonable time and at minimal or no cost to the individual. The requested information
shall be provided or made available in a form that is generally understandable.
For example, if the Great Wall Herbal Ltd. uses abbreviations or codes to record
information, an explanation shall be provided.
4.9.5
When
an individual successfully demonstrates the inaccuracy or incompleteness of personal
information Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall amend the information as required. Depending
upon the nature of the information challenged, amendment involves the correction,
deletion, or addition of information. Where appropriate, the amended information
shall be transmitted to third parties having access to the information in question.
4.9.6
When a challenge is not resolved to the satisfaction
of the individual, the substance of the unresolved challenge shall be recorded
by Great Wall Herbal Ltd.. When appropriate, the existence of the unresolved challenge
shall be transmitted to third parties having access to the information in question.
4.10 Principle 10 - Challenging Compliance
An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the aboveuntitled principles to the designated individual or individuals accountable for Great Wall Herbal Ltd.'s compliance.
4.10.1
The individual accountable for
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. compliance is discussed in Clause 4.1.1.
4.10.2
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall put procedures in place to receive and respond
to complaints or inquiries about their policies and practices relating to the
handling of personal information. The complaint procedures should be easily accessible
and simple to use.
4.10.3
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall inform
individuals who make inquiries or lodge complaints of the existence of relevant
complaint procedures. A range of these procedures may exist. For example, some
regulatory bodies accept complaints about the personal-information handling practices
of the companies they regulate.
4.10.4
Great Wall Herbal
Ltd. shall investigate all complaints. If a complaint is found to be justified,
Great Wall Herbal Ltd. shall take appropriate measures, including, if necessary,
amending its policies and practices.
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