Disclosure of information16

1

Subject to paragraph (3), if a person discloses information which—

a

relates to a trade secret or secret manufacturing process, and

b

was obtained by him by virtue of these Regulations when he was an inspector or a person who accompanied an inspector by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 7,

he shall be guilty of an offence unless the disclosure was made in the performance of his duty as an inspector or such other person.

2

For the purposes of paragraph (1) information disclosing the identity of the packer of a package or the identity of the person who arranged with the packer of a package for the package to be made up shall be treated as a trade secret unless the information has previously been disclosed in a manner which made it available to the public.

3

It shall not be an offence under paragraph (1) for a person to disclose information in circumstances where—

a

the person from whom the public authority received the information has consented to its disclosure; or

b

the information is disclosed more than 50 years after it was received by the public authority.