# GDPR Article 36 — Prior consultation

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-36-prior-consultation
- Section: [Compliance](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance) › [GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr) › Articles 31–40
- Last updated: 2026-06-05
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

**GDPR**·Article `Article 36`·medium·Component: **Chapter IV: Controller and Processor**

## What this control requires

> Controllers must consult the supervisory authority before processing if a DPIA indicates high risk without mitigation, providing details on responsibilities, purposes, safeguards, DPO contact, and the DPIA. The authority may provide advice or use powers within 8 weeks, extendable by 6 weeks. This control addresses Prior Consultation.
> 
> — GDPR, Article Article 36

### In plain English

Controllers must consult the supervisory authority before processing if a DPIA indicates high risk without mitigation, providing details on responsibilities, purposes, safeguards, DPO contact, and the DPIA. In practice, this means you can prove you processor controller-level controls on a defined cadence.

## Why it matters

GDPR administrative fines reach the greater of €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) coordinates supervisory-authority enforcement across the EU/EEA, and DPAs publish enforcement decisions citing specific Articles.

## What an auditor looks for

A DPA or privacy auditor expects: a Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) entry, a documented lawful basis, evidence the Article's data-subject right is operationalised end-to-end, a named DPO contact (where required), and Article 30 records that match what the front-end actually does.

Within **Chapter IV: Controller and Processor**, the assessor will trace your implementation back to the catalogue reference (Article Article 36) and look for objective evidence on the latest two assessment cycles.

## How to implement

#### Policy Management

**Docs.** Keep each policy in version-controlled Markdown alongside the code that implements it; ship a signed PDF snapshot at each annual review and link the SHA into the SoA.

### Operational checklist

-   **Processor.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Prior.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Supervisory.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Powers.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Safeguards.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Scope:** controller, controllers, supervisory authority, consultation.

## Evidence to collect

-   **Policy Document.** A signed and version-controlled policy / standard / procedure document.

Signed policy or standard documents the safeguard. Focus: Prior consultation.

## Common pitfalls

-   Policies that no engineer has read; the version in Confluence drifts from the version that's actually being enforced.

## Related controls in GDPR

-   [**Article Article 31** — Cooperation with the supervisory authority](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-31-cooperation-with-the-supervisory-authority)
-   [**Article Article 37** — Designation of the data protection officer](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-37-designation-of-the-data-protection-officer)
-   [**Article Article 29** — Processing under the authority of the controller or processor](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-29-processing-under-the-authority-of-the-controller-or-processor)
-   [**Article Article 33** — Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-33-notification-of-a-personal-data-breach-to-the-supervisory-authority)
-   [**Article Article 27** — Representatives of controllers or processors not established in the Union](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-27-representatives-of-controllers-or-processors-not-established-in-the-union)
-   [**Article Article 56** — Competence of the lead supervisory authority](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr/article-56-competence-of-the-lead-supervisory-authority)

## References

-   [European Union — GDPR](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj)
-   Catalogue identifier: `Article Article 36`

Topics: governance riskpolicy management

## Related compliance guidance

- [GDPR compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/gdpr): Start with the full GDPR implementation guide — scope, roadmap, evidence and how the assessment runs.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): The security management system most EU procurement teams ask for alongside a DPA; its controls supply much of the Article 32 evidence.
- [India's DPDP Act 2023: a practical compliance guide for cloud teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/india-dpdp-act-2023): If engineering or support teams sit in India, the same data flows are also subject to India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.