Privacy Policy

1. Purpose of the Policy

This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and retain the personal information of agricultural producers, visitors, and users of the Aliments du Québec website (you). It also specifies how this personal information may be accessed and corrected if necessary.

2. Consent

By providing us with personal information through this website, by email, by phone, in person, or by any other means, you agree that such information will be handled in accordance with what is set out in this policy, and you authorize Aliments du Québec and its service providers to process your personal information for the purposes set out below.

What information do we collect?

3. Information you provide to us

We collect the personal information you provide to us when you:

• Contact us using the “Contact Us” form;
• Complete a form to register for a training session;
• Complete a form to subscribe to our newsletters;
• Complete a form to become a member or renew your membership;
• Complete a form to participate in contests;
• Purchase labels and promotional materials at the point of sale.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include your first and last name, your contact information (email, phone number, region), your questions, comments and requests for information, and your preferences.

4. Information collected through our website

We use Google Analytics to analyze the browsing behavior of visitors to the Aliments du Québec website. This is a tool used to analyze website traffic and usage.

Google Analytics collects the following information:

• The number of visitors to the site;
• The type and version of the browser and operating system used (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.);
• The device category, brand, and model;
• Screen resolution and other technical settings;
• The date, time, and average duration of visits;
• Pages viewed;
• The referring website addresses, if visitors access the site from another platform;
• The city from which the site was accessed;
• The region from which the site was accessed;
• The country from which the site was accessed;
• Gender;
• Age;
• Language;
• Interests.

The information collected by Google Analytics is used to analyze the use of our website and to produce statistical reports on visitor activity so that we can improve our tools and the overall user experience.

We also use cookies and similar tools on the website. These are files that are stored in your web browser or on your computer’s hard drive, or on your mobile device, in order to collect certain information. This information may include the date, time, and duration of your visits, your browsing history, and the type and version of your browser. This information is collected automatically in order to optimize your experience on our site, including by remembering your settings and preferences. Cookies are stored on your device until you delete them yourself from your browsing history.

In addition, if you wish to disable cookies, you may do so by changing the settings in your browser or on your mobile device. Please note, however, that disabling cookies in your browser may negatively affect your browsing experience.

5. How is your information used?

We mainly use your personal information:

• To provide you with the services you request from us;
• To optimize the content, navigation service, and display of our website;
• To respond to your questions, comments, and requests for information;
• To register you for a training session;
• To register you for a contest;
• For payment when making a purchase;
• For your membership and/or renewal;
• To add your subscription to our newsletter mailing lists, depending on your choice;
• For any other purposes authorized or required by law.

The personal information we collect will mainly be accessible to Aliments du Québec staff members.

6. How do we protect your personal information?

We protect the information provided to us from the moment it is transmitted until it is destroyed. We maintain appropriate physical, technical, or administrative safeguards to protect your personal information against accidental or unlawful destruction, accidental loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure or access, misuse, or any other unlawful form of processing. Only staff members who need to know your information, or whose duties reasonably require that they know it, have access to your personal information.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet and no method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We therefore cannot guarantee the security of the information you provide to us, and you do so at your own risk. We also cannot guarantee that such information will not be accessed, obtained, disclosed, altered, or destroyed as a result of a breach of our safeguards. If you have reason to believe that personal information has been compromised, please contact us.

7. With whom do we share your personal information?

We do not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent, except in the following cases:

To our service providers, partners, or advisors, when such information is necessary for the performance of their services or functions (for example, the provider of data hosting services and the design of our website);

In all cases where such disclosure is permitted or required by law (for example, in the case of a court order).

8. Retention of personal information

The information we provide to our service providers may be disclosed outside Québec.

We retain personal information for as long as required to carry out our activities.

9. Destruction of personal information

Once the purposes for which the personal information was collected have been achieved, the information is destroyed or anonymized in a secure manner.

10. Right of access and rectification

Upon written request and subject to proof of identification, you may request access to your personal information or request that any incomplete or inaccurate personal information we hold about you be corrected.

However, to ensure that the information we hold is complete and accurate, please inform us promptly of any changes relating to your personal information.

11. Withdrawal of consent

Upon written request and subject to proof of identification, you may withdraw your consent to the disclosure or use of your personal information. Please note that withdrawing your consent will have no effect on disclosures made previously with your initial consent.

12. Unsubscribe

When you subscribe to one or more of the newsletters offered in the newsletter subscription section, the email address provided will be used by Aliments du Québec to send you newsletters with various content, according to your choices.

If you no longer wish to be included on our mailing lists, simply unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each newsletter you are subscribed to.

13. Links to external websites

The Aliments du Québec website contains links to other websites external to Aliments du Québec, such as partner websites and government websites. This policy does not extend to those websites. By clicking on these links, you will be automatically redirected to them. We have no control over how they operate and we cannot under any circumstances be held responsible for the policies, procedures, and practices of these third parties regarding the protection of personal information, or for any other reason whatsoever.

14. Contact us

For any questions, complaints, or comments regarding the privacy policy or the terms of use, to submit a request for access to or correction of your personal information, or to withdraw your consent to our use or disclosure of your personal information, we invite you to contact Isabelle Roy, our Privacy Officer, by email at the following address: infos@alimentsduquebec.com or by mail at the following address:

Conseil de promotion de l'agroalimentaire québécois (CPAQ)
c/o Privacy Officer
555 Roland-Therrien Blvd., Suite 240
Longueuil (Québec)
J4H 4E7

15. Updates

Aliments du Québec reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify content, terms of use, and policies at any time. Aliments du Québec therefore invites you to consult them regularly, as changes may be made. By using the Aliments du Québec website, you agree to be bound by such modifications.

The Privacy Policy was last updated on September 15, 2023.

Do you have any questions or concerns?

If you would like further details about this privacy policy, wish to exercise your right of access, or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We will respond as soon as possible.