WEST WARWICK, R.I. - Arpin International Group has obtained certification approval from the United States Department of Commerce for the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework for meeting U.S. and European Union data privacy and protection standards. “Becoming certified under the Privacy Shield is a validation of everything we do internally to secure and protect our customers’ data,” said Bob Sullivan, senior vice president of corporate accounts of Arpin International Group. “Complying with data protection regulations has always been a top priority for Arpin. For our partners and customers around the world, it is another indication that we are 100 percent committed to ensuring the security and privacy of our customers’ personally identifiable information.” The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework was designed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and European Commission to provide companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Union to the United States in support of transatlantic commerce.  Arpin International Group has taken numerous measures to ensure the protection of its data by hiring a regulatory compliance manager in October and undergoing periodic cybersecurity penetration tests to bolster its defenses against would-be hackers. The Privacy Shield program is administered by the International Trade Administration (ITA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and its primary function is to manage the program by (a) maintaining the Privacy Shield list, (b) verifying self-certification requirements, (c) conducting compliance reviews and (d) facilitating the resolution of complaints referred by EU Data Protection Authorities. Arpin International Group must recertify annually to maintain its Privacy Shield status.