GDPR Glossary

What is Main establishment?

An organisation's central place of decision-making in the EU — which sets its lead supervisory authority.

The main establishment is usually the place of a controller's central administration in the EU (or where the main processing decisions are taken).

It determines which DPA is the lead authority under the one-stop-shop.

In the Regulation

Art. 4 Definitions Art. 56 Competence of the lead supervisory authority

Related terms

One-stop-shopThe mechanism that lets cross-border businesses deal with a single lead supervisory authority.EU representativeA person or firm in the EU that non-EU organisations must appoint to act as their local GDPR contact.

Need this applied to your business?

Our data-protection lawyers turn GDPR terms into a working plan.