FineChem.net ("FineChem", "we", "us" or "our") operates a business-to-business platform for the chemical industry. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and share it, how long we keep it, and the rights and choices available to you.
This Policy applies to the FineChem.net website, mobile pages and related services (the "Platform"), including when you create an account, sign in with Google, publish a company profile or product listing, post or respond to a request for quotation, upload documents, or contact us. It does not apply to third-party websites or services that we do not control.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information you provide
- Account information: display name, email address, password (stored only as a salted hash), preferred language and account settings.
- Company information: legal and trading name, registration or tax number, company type, country, city, address, website, contact details, business description, certifications and verification documents.
- Trade information: product listings, supply and demand notices, RFQs, quotations, orders, trade leads, shipment and logistics details, sample requests and dispute records.
- Content and documents: images, SDS, TDS, COA and other files you upload, together with messages you send to other users or to us.
- Communications: support requests, complaints, compliance enquiries and feedback.
1.2 Information collected automatically
- Device and technical data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, referring pages, pages viewed, links clicked, session identifiers and timestamps.
- Approximate location: derived from your IP address (generally at city or country level).
- Security and audit logs: login events, administrative actions and records of access to sensitive features, used to detect and investigate misuse.
1.3 Information from third parties
If you sign in with Google, we receive the information described in section 3. We may also receive limited information from service providers that help us with hosting, email delivery, security and analytics, or from public sources and verification providers used to check company details.
1.4 Sensitive information
FineChem.net is a business platform and does not ask for special categories of personal data. Please do not upload identity documents, health information, biometric data or other sensitive personal information unless we specifically request it for verification or legal compliance. Where such information is required, we will process it only for that purpose and on an appropriate legal basis.
2. How We Use Information
We use personal information to:
- create and administer accounts, authenticate users and maintain secure sessions;
- operate the Platform, including publishing company profiles, product listings, supply and demand notices and RFQs;
- facilitate communication and transactions between buyers, suppliers and service providers;
- verify company identity, review listings and carry out compliance, sanctions and anti-fraud checks;
- provide customer support, respond to enquiries and resolve disputes;
- send service messages, security alerts and, where permitted, relevant product or industry updates (you can opt out of marketing at any time);
- monitor, secure and improve the Platform, including troubleshooting, analytics and abuse prevention;
- comply with legal obligations, enforce our Terms of Service, and protect the rights, property and safety of FineChem, our users and others.
3. Signing In with Google
3.1 What we receive
When you choose "Continue with Google", Google asks you to authorise sharing of basic profile information under the openid, email and profile scopes. We receive and store:
- your verified email address;
- your display name (the name associated with your Google account);
- basic profile information made available under those scopes, which may include a profile image URL.
We use this information only to authenticate you, to create a FineChem.net account if you do not already have one, and to link your Google sign-in to an existing account registered with the same verified email address.
3.2 What we do not receive
We never receive or store your Google password. We do not request access to Gmail, Google Drive, Google Contacts, Google Calendar or any other Google service, and we do not obtain your Google contacts or files.
3.3 Google API Limited Use disclosure
FineChem.net's use of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements. We do not use Google user data for advertising, do not sell it, do not use it to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes, and do not allow humans to read it except where you have given your affirmative consent, where it is necessary for security purposes (such as investigating abuse), to comply with applicable law, or as part of a merger or acquisition approved by Google's policy.
3.4 Revoking access and deleting Google data
You can revoke FineChem.net's access to your Google account at any time at myaccount.google.com/permissions. Revoking access stops future sign-in with Google and stops us from receiving new profile information. It does not automatically delete your FineChem.net account or the email address and display name already stored. To delete your account and associated data, follow the instructions in section 11 or email bd@finechem.net. After revocation you may continue to access your account using the password reset process, where an email address is registered.
Google's own handling of your information is governed by the Google Privacy Policy.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Where data protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on:
- Performance of a contract: to provide the Platform and the services you request;
- Legitimate interests: to operate, secure and improve the Platform, prevent fraud and abuse, and communicate with business users, balanced against your rights;
- Consent: where we ask for it, for example for optional marketing communications or certain cookies;
- Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws, regulatory requests and record-keeping requirements.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary to operate the Platform, including:
- Session cookies: to keep you signed in and to protect forms against cross-site request forgery;
- Preference cookies: to remember your language and display choices;
- Security cookies: to detect abuse and protect the integrity of the Platform.
We do not use advertising cookies or sell data collected through cookies. When you sign in with Google, Google may set cookies or collect information as part of its own authentication flow, subject to Google's policies. You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings; blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the Platform from working.
6. How We Share Information
We do not sell personal information. We may share it in the following circumstances:
- With other users: company profiles, product listings, supply and demand notices and the contact details you choose to publish are visible to other users and may be visible publicly. Messages and documents are shared with the recipients you select.
- With service providers: hosting, database, email delivery, file storage, security, analytics and IT support providers that process information on our behalf under contractual confidentiality and security obligations.
- For compliance and safety: with regulators, law enforcement, courts or other authorities where required by law or where necessary to investigate fraud, protect safety or enforce our rights.
- With professional advisers: lawyers, auditors and insurers where necessary for the operation of our business.
- In a business transfer: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing or sale of assets, subject to appropriate safeguards.
- With your consent: in other circumstances where you have agreed to the sharing.
7. International Transfers
FineChem.net serves users worldwide and may process information in countries other than your own. Where we transfer personal information across borders, we take steps required by applicable law, such as entering into appropriate contractual safeguards and limiting access to what is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as needed to provide the Platform, maintain your account and meet our legal, tax, accounting and compliance obligations. As a general guide:
- account and profile information is retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after closure to handle disputes and legal claims;
- trade records, documents and compliance records may be retained for longer where required by law or for audit and fraud-prevention purposes;
- security and audit logs are retained for a limited period appropriate to security monitoring;
- backup copies may persist for a limited period until they are overwritten in the ordinary course.
When information is no longer needed, we delete it or anonymise it.
9. Security
We use technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information, including encrypted connections (TLS), hashed passwords, access controls, role-based permissions, logging and monitoring. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a security incident affecting personal information, we will investigate and notify affected users and authorities where required by law.
10. Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- be informed about how your personal information is processed;
- access and obtain a copy of your personal information;
- correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- request deletion of your information;
- restrict or object to certain processing;
- receive your information in a portable format;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing;
- lodge a complaint with a data protection authority in your country or region.
To exercise any of these rights, email bd@finechem.net. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request and may ask for information sufficient to locate your account. We will respond within the period required by applicable law, generally within 30 days. Some information may be retained where we have a legal obligation or a legitimate need to keep it, such as fraud prevention or dispute resolution.
11. Account Deletion
You may request deletion of your FineChem.net account at any time by emailing bd@finechem.net from the email address registered to your account, with the subject line "Account deletion". We will verify the request and delete or anonymise your account information, company profile, listings and associated content, except where we are required or permitted to retain certain records for legal, tax, compliance, fraud-prevention or dispute-resolution purposes. Backup copies are deleted or overwritten in the ordinary course. Revoking Google access does not by itself delete your FineChem.net account.
12. Children's Privacy
The Platform is intended for business users aged 18 or over. It is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.
13. Third-Party Links and Services
The Platform may link to third-party websites, regulatory resources, news sources, exhibition organisers and payment or logistics providers. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of every third-party service you use, including Google's policies when you sign in with Google.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology or legal requirements. The revised version will be posted on this page with a new effective date. Where changes are material, we will provide additional notice, such as an email or a prominent notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after the revised Policy takes effect means you accept the updated Policy.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions, requests or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, contact:
FineChem.net — Privacy Team
Email: bd@finechem.net
Please include "Privacy" in the subject line so that your message is routed correctly.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the data protection authority in your country or region.