1. Introduction
HS Herbs ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of our business partners, website visitors, and customers. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website hs-herbs.com or engage with our B2B export services.
By using our website or services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this policy, please do not access or use our services.
2. Information We Collect
Personal Information
When you interact with us through contact forms, sample requests, or trade inquiries, we may collect:
- Full name and job title
- Company name and business registration details
- Email address and phone number
- Business address and shipping address
- Product interest and order specifications
- Payment and banking information (for transactions)
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:
- IP address and browser type
- Device information and operating system
- Pages visited, time spent, and navigation patterns
- Referring website or source
- Geographic location (country/region level)
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information for the following purposes:
- Business Communication: Responding to inquiries, sending quotations, and managing B2B relationships
- Order Fulfillment: Processing orders, arranging shipments, and providing export documentation
- Sample Requests: Preparing and shipping product samples to qualified buyers
- Website Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience
- Marketing: Sending product catalogs, market updates, and trade show information (with consent)
- Legal Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements for international trade and export documentation
4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
For individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Contractual Necessity: Processing required to fulfill B2B trade contracts and pre-contractual inquiries
- Legitimate Interest: Processing necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as managing client relationships, improving our services, and marketing to business contacts
- Consent: Where required, we obtain explicit consent for marketing communications and non-essential cookies
- Legal Obligation: Processing required to comply with export regulations, customs requirements, and tax obligations
5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience:
Essential Cookies
Required for website functionality, including session management and security features. These cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics (GA4) to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect anonymous, aggregated data about page views, traffic sources, and user behavior. You can opt out using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality. Most browsers allow you to:
- View and delete cookies
- Block third-party cookies
- Block all cookies
- Clear cookies when closing the browser
6. Data Sharing & Third Parties
We do not sell your personal data. We may share information with:
- Shipping & Logistics Partners: Freight forwarders, shipping lines, and courier services necessary for order delivery
- Payment Processors: Banks and financial institutions for processing international payments
- Regulatory Authorities: Customs agencies, health authorities, and trade regulators as required by law
- Certification Bodies: SGS, Bureau Veritas, and other inspection agencies engaged by the buyer
- Analytics Providers: Google Analytics for anonymized website usage data
All third-party partners are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for the specified purposes.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary:
- Trade inquiries: 3 years from last contact
- Active client records: Duration of business relationship + 7 years (for regulatory compliance)
- Website analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
- Marketing consent records: Until withdrawal of consent + 1 year
8. Your Rights
Under GDPR and applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights:
- Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
- Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we use your data
- Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interest or direct marketing
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where consent is the legal basis
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@hs-herbs.com. We will respond within 30 days.
9. International Data Transfers
As an international B2B exporter based in Egypt, your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the EEA. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
- Adequacy decisions where applicable
- Binding corporate agreements with service providers
10. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including:
- SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit
- Access controls and authentication systems
- Regular security assessments and updates
- Employee training on data protection
While we strive to protect your data, no electronic transmission or storage method is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are designed for B2B trade professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of 18. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us immediately.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this page regularly.