On February 19, the Italian Data Protection Authority, the Garante, published the notice of the launch of a public consultation on the draft of the "code of conduct and professional practice applying to the processing of personal data carried out for commercial information purposes.”

The aim of this consultation is to acquire contributions and proposals by all stakeholders on the draft code, including trade associations representing the relevant industries.

The above observations shall be submitted to the Garante within 40 days of the publication of the notice on the Italian Official Gazette by e-mail at consultazione.infocommerciali@gpdp.it.

The scope of the draft code is to lay down an organic and comprehensive framework applying to all the data processing carried out for commercial information purposes by also finding a delicate balance between the business objectives of the companies operating in this highly sensitive sector and the protection of data subjects' privacy rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms.