European Data Protection Board - Fourth Plenary session: EU-Japan draft adequacy decision, Clinical Trials Regulation and territorial scope.

19 November 2018

European Data Protection Board - Fourth Plenary session: EU-Japan draft adequacy decision, Clinical Trials Regulation and territorial scope.

Brussels, 19 November - On November 16th, the European Data Protection Authorities, assembled in the European Data Protection Board, met for their fourth plenary session. During the plenary a wide range of topics were discussed.

EU-Japan draft adequacy decision 

The Board Members discussed the state of play of the work of the EDPB on the EU-Japan draft adequacy decision, which the EDPB received from Commissioner Věra Jourová in September 2018. The Board reiterated the importance of guaranteeing the continuity and high level of protection for data transfers from the EU. 

EDPB to provide guidance on clinical trials Q&A on the interplay between the GDPR and the Clinical Trials Regulation

Following a consultation from the European Commission, the Board agreed on the attribution of a mandate for the provision of guidance on a Q&A, developed by the Commission, on the interplay between the GDPR and the Clinical Trials Regulation.

Guidelines on territorial scope

During the September plenary, the EDPB adopted new draft guidelines, which will help provide a common interpretation of the territorial scope of the GDPR and provide further clarification on the application of the GDPR in various situations, in particular where the data controller or processor is established outside of the EU, including on the designation of a representative. As the standard final legal checks prior to publication revealed that some items required further discussion, the EDPB decided to discuss the guidelines once more during the November plenary. These issues have now been fully addressed and the guidelines shall be soon published for public consultation.