The complainant has requested information from Essex County Council about chilli powder that was found to be contaminated with the illegal food colour Sudan 1. The council refused the complainant’s request citing section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This exclusion relates to vexatious requests. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council has correctly refused the request as vexatious. However, the Commissioner identified that the refusal should have relied upon regulation 12(4)(b) of the Environmental Information Regulations, which provides an exception for manifestly unreasonable requests. He requires no steps to be taken by the council.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: EIR 12.4.b – Complaint Not upheld
Citations:
[2013] UKICO FER0492364
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 04 May 2022; Ref: scu.528752