One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at a central system, a query requesting access to a dataset, wherein the central system communicates with a plurality of data storage locations, each having a governance policy for data stored at the data storage location, wherein different portions of the dataset are stored within different of the plurality of data storage locations; sending a sub-query formulated based upon the query; receiving a governance enforcement actions listing corresponding to the portion of the dataset stored within the corresponding data storage location; generating a meta-policy of enforcement actions for all of the plurality of data storage locations storing portions of the dataset, wherein the meta-policy identifies enforcement actions and an order of the enforcement actions to be applied to the dataset; and providing the meta-policy to each of the plurality of data storage locations.