Following 3 months of intense effort to convert the questionnaire which forms the essential basis for the FENCA GDPR Code of Conduct into an online product, FENCA Members are currently completing the questionnaire, which will provide the granular detail needed by our legal consultant, Dr Gero Ziegenhorn, and the FENCA GDPR steering committee (Leigh, Erwin, and Andreas) to ensure the draft Code reflects the practices of our sector in all 28 EU member states and every other EEA country represented by FENCA with regard to the processing of personal data.

 


 

Due to the complexity of some of the questions, which necessarily cover each of the European Standard Business Processes (ESBPs) FENCA agreed last year, the online questionnaire software includes functionality to allow users to:

- complete many sections via check boxes and yes/no answers
-
be reminded of their previous answers
- save and store responses
- centrally completion of sections by more than one person
- refer back to the current stage of the ESBPs at any time in case of disorientation

 

In addition, Leigh and Andreas have now hosted 5 webinars, supported expertly throughout by Marisa and Dennis from the FENCA Secretariat.  The first three webinars were to respond to initial issues with the online questionnaire, and to familiarise users with the software.  The last two webinars were to field questions arising from completion, and to gauge progress toward completion by the deadline of 9th March.  As a result, a detailed FAQ document was issued to share the answers to various questions from the webinars.  Our thanks go to all Associations who have contributed to making the process easier for all and who have spent considerable time and resources to provide the necessary input. We would also like to thank the members of the FENCA Code of Conduct Working Party, who have contributed their expertise, and are helping us respond on behalf of the EU members  where there is no trade association to respond to the questionnaire.

 

The next step is for us all to meet in Brussels on Thursday 19th April, when we will provide you with an update on the collated responses received, and a progress report on a draft framework for the Code of Conduct.  Please note this meeting is now a Members Meeting rather than an EGM, as we will not be asking you to approve anything in relation to the Code.  We will  also have further news from the Commission on GDPR-related topics, and look forward to hearing your views on the day.