GDPR Compliance

Last Updated: 03/12/2025

At SmartlyRecipes.com, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This page outlines your rights under the GDPR and explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use our website.

1. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access – Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification – Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) – Request deletion of your personal data when it is no longer necessary or if you withdraw consent.
  • Right to Restrict Processing – Request limited processing of your data under certain conditions (e.g., when accuracy is disputed).
  • Right to Data Portability – Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Right to Object – Object to data processing based on legitimate interests, including for direct marketing.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent – Withdraw consent at any time for processing based on your agreement.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within one month, as required by GDPR.

2. What Personal Data We Collect

We collect and process only the data necessary for providing our services:

  • Name – If you sign up for our newsletter or contact us via forms.
  • Email Address – When subscribing to our newsletter or making inquiries.
  • IP Address – Collected automatically for security and analytics purposes.
  • Cookies & Tracking Data – Collected to analyze user behavior (see Cookies & Tracking).

We do not collect sensitive personal data (e.g., health, financial, or political information).

3. Legal Basis for Processing Data

Under GDPR, we process your data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Consent – When you subscribe to our newsletter or agree to cookie tracking.
  • Legitimate Interests – To improve website functionality and analyze traffic (without overriding your rights).
  • Contractual Necessity – If you engage with us in a business-related inquiry.
  • Legal Compliance – When required to comply with regulatory obligations.

You may object to processing based on legitimate interests at any time by contacting us.

4. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for:

  • Providing Content & Services – Including recipe updates and newsletters.
  • Website Analytics & Improvements – Understanding user behavior to enhance content.
  • Responding to Inquiries – Answering emails and contact form submissions.
  • Marketing & Communications – Sending newsletters (only with your explicit consent).

You can unsubscribe from newsletters anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails.

5. Data Sharing & Transfers

We do not sell or rent your personal data. However, we may share it with:

  • Service Providers – Third-party providers assisting with website hosting, email marketing, and analytics. They only process data as instructed by us.
  • Legal Authorities – If required to comply with legal obligations.

International Data Transfers

If we transfer your data outside the EEA, we ensure compliance with GDPR by using:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission.
  • Adequacy Decisions – If the recipient country offers equivalent data protection.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary for its intended purpose:

  • Google Analytics data – Retained for 14 months, then anonymized.
  • Newsletter subscriber data – Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
  • Contact form inquiries – Stored for up to 6 months unless required for follow-ups.

When retention is no longer necessary, your data is securely deleted unless legal obligations require otherwise.

7. Security of Your Data

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including:

🔒 SSL Encryption – Secure transmission of data.
🔒 Access Controls – Restricted access to authorized personnel only.
🔒 Regular Security Reviews – To prevent unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure.

While we take every precaution, no method of data transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Cookies and Tracking

SmartlyRecipes.com uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience. These include:

  • Essential Cookies – Required for website functionality.
  • Analytics Cookies – Used by Google Analytics to track visitor interactions.
  • Marketing Cookies – Only used if you consent (e.g., for targeted advertising).

Managing Cookies

You can:

  • Adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies.
  • Use our cookie consent banner to manage preferences (where available).

For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

9. Contact Information

If you have any GDPR-related concerns or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

📧 Email: [email protected]

We are committed to addressing your privacy concerns promptly and transparently.