Correspondence with the laboratory employed to analyse for PFAS (FOI)

Request

Communications with the USA laboratory employed to analyse for PFAS.

An Freedom of Information response published on 8 December 2021 "PFOS & PFOA sample results (FOI)" included a 23 page document "ID FOI Sample data 2019 20211222.pdf" . This revealed that "Vista Analytical Laboratory" had been employed to analyse samples of milk and potatoes in 2019.

Please will you provide me with copies of all communications between the Jersey authorities and this laboratory concerning this matter.

I wish to learn what the laboratory were asked to do, including which PFAS chemicals to analyse for as well as what PFAS chemicals the laboratory stated were within its capabilities and experiences. In addition please provide all details concerning the detection and quantitation levels referred to by either party.

I do not ask for any monetary details; these may be redacted where required.

Response

We have checked the Environmental and Consumer Protection records and the email accounts of staff involved with this matter.

Attached are copies of the documentation requested.

 Document 1

 Document 2

 Document 3 

 Document 4

 Document 5

 Document 6

 Document 7

 Document 8

 Document 9 

 Document 10

 Document 11

 Document 12

 Document 13

 Document 14

 Document 15

 Document 16

 Document 17

Personal information has been redacted in accordance with the Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Articles applied

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if – (a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018;

and (b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law. 

(3) In determining for the purposes of this Article whether the lawfulness principle in Article 8(1)(a) of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 would be contravened by the disclosure of information, paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 2 to that Law (legitimate interests) is to be read as if sub-paragraph (b) (which disapplies the provision where the controller is a public authority) were omitted