CASRO Safe Harbor Program Announced

US research organisation CASRO has launched a Safe Harbor Program to help research companies comply with US-EU privacy regulations.

CASRO says the service will support member self-certification to the Department of Commerce's Safe Harbor Framework in compliance with the EU Directive on Data Protection: helping participating members to confirm that their privacy policies meet Department of Commerce Safe Harbor requirements and that their adherence is properly documented. The association will also provide an independent, online complaint-handling service, powered by partner organisation the Council of Better Business Bureaus, free of charge to EU and Swiss residents.

CASRO President Diane Bowers (pictured) says joining the scheme 'assures business partners and respondents that you meet the 'adequacy' standards required by the EU, allowing your company to conduct business with European partners seamlessly.'

Abby Devine, Director of Government and Public Affairs, comments: 'With the FTC's increased enforcement of the US-EU Safe Harbor regulations, it is especially important for research companies that receive data from the EU to be vigilant in their self-certification to Safe Harbor and compliance with the EU Data Directive. The CASRO Safe Harbor Program supports our members' ongoing self-certification to the Safe Harbor Principles and provides an enforcement mechanism for resolution of eligible disputes.'

Web site: www.casro.org .