Last updated

19 February 2026

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how ASC Food Safety Consultants, ASC Food Safety Solutions and ascfoodsafety.com may collect, use, store, protect and manage personal information when a user visits the website, completes a form, books a service, downloads material, purchases digital products, registers for training, contacts ASC or otherwise interacts with ASC systems. By continuing to access or use the website, the user acknowledges this Privacy Policy and the related legal framework published on the ASC website.

1. Why privacy matters

ASC Food Safety Consultants recognises that privacy is a matter of trust, legal responsibility and professional integrity. Personal information is not sold, rented or traded. Privacy practices are intended to support respectful and responsible information handling for South African individuals, businesses, organisations and international users where relevant.

2. Key privacy terms

• Personal information or personal data means information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.
• Processing includes collection, recording, organisation, storage, use, sharing, deletion or other handling of personal information.
• Data subject means the person whose personal information is being processed.
• Consent means a voluntary and informed indication of agreement to processing where consent is the lawful basis relied upon.
• Child means a person under the age of 18 years.

3. Data protection principles

• Processing should be lawful, fair and transparent.
• Information should be collected for specific, legitimate and relevant purposes.
• Only data reasonably necessary for the stated purpose should be collected.
• Information should not be retained longer than reasonably necessary or legally required.
• Reasonable safeguards should support confidentiality, integrity and security.

4. Rights of data subjects

• Request access to personal information held by ASC.
• Request correction or amendment of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of personal information, subject to legal or operational retention obligations.
• Object to certain forms of processing, including direct marketing in appropriate circumstances.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• Lodge a complaint with ASC or a relevant regulatory authority where a privacy concern exists.

5. What information ASC may collect

• Names, email addresses, telephone numbers and contact details submitted through forms or enquiries.
• Company, billing, invoice, transaction or service-related information.
• Training registration, booking, consultation or support communication details.
• Website interaction data such as IP address, browser type, device details, pages viewed, time spent and referral sources.
• Cookies, analytics information, session data and shopping or basket interaction details.
• Publicly available professional information where relevant for legitimate business engagement.

6. Why ASC uses personal information

• To provide products, services, downloads, consultations, training or support.
• To respond to enquiries, process requests and maintain client communication.
• To fulfil contracts, billing, invoicing and legal record-keeping requirements.
• To improve website usability, performance, analytics and service quality.
• To send newsletters, updates or promotions where consent or lawful basis exists.
• To detect misuse, manage risk, support cybersecurity and protect systems.

7. Legal bases for processing

ASC may process personal information on the basis of consent, contractual necessity, legitimate interests, legal obligations or other lawful grounds recognised under applicable privacy and data protection laws, including principles relevant to POPIA and related frameworks.

8. Sharing of information

• Trusted service providers supporting website functionality, communication, analytics, transactions or administration.
• Payment processors, accounting functions or operational contractors where relevant.
• Analytics providers such as Google Analytics or Microsoft Clarity for website improvement purposes.
• Authorities, regulators or legal entities where disclosure is required by law or lawful process.
• Selected communication or marketing tools where the user has opted in or another lawful basis applies.

9. Cookies and analytics

ASC may use cookies and related technologies to enable essential site functionality, remember preferences, understand visitor behaviour, measure performance and improve website usability. This may include necessary cookies, functionality cookies and analytics cookies. Users may manage cookies through browser settings or other supported preference tools, noting that disabling cookies may affect some site functions.

10. Security and protection measures

• Use of HTTPS and secure website practices where implemented.
• Reasonable access controls, confidentiality controls and administrative measures.
• System maintenance, security updates and vulnerability management practices.
• Incident handling and breach-response processes where required.

11. Retention of information

ASC retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, to comply with legal, tax, accounting, security or regulatory obligations, or to support legitimate operational needs. Where information is no longer required, ASC may securely delete or anonymise it.

12. Children’s privacy

ASC websites and services are not primarily directed at children under 18 years of age. ASC does not knowingly collect personal information from children in circumstances where such collection is not lawful or appropriate. Where such information is identified, reasonable steps may be taken to remove or restrict it.

13. Access, correction and deletion requests

Users may request to view, amend or delete personal information held by ASC by using the ASC privacy tools page, the ASC contact page or the published contact details. Some records may need to be retained for legal, administrative, accounting, fraud-prevention or security purposes even where deletion is requested.

14. External links and third-party websites

ASC websites may contain links to third-party websites, services or platforms. ASC is not responsible for the privacy practices, content or data handling standards of external websites. Users should review the privacy policies of those third parties before submitting personal information.

15. Changes to this Privacy Policy

ASC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal, operational, service, regulatory or website changes. The most current version published on the ASC website will apply from the date of publication unless stated otherwise.

Contact information

Company: ASC Food Safety Consultants / ASC Food Safety Solutions
Email: info@ascfoodsafety.com
Phone: +27 41 004 0382
Website: ascfoodsafety.com
Address: 14 Brickmakers Kloof Road, South End, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 6001