1. Data collection including specific goods Lídia Bassó
Hungarian Central Statistical Office Dpt. of Services and External Trade Statistics
Data collection including specific goods
Lídia Bassó
MEDSTAT study visit on ITGS Budapest, May, 2013

2. Abbreviations CP – customs procedure
ITGS – international trade in goods statistics
MS – Member State of the EU
NSI – National Statistical Institute

3. Customs declaration, the main source (1)
Traditional, administrative data source
Data content (customs, customs&statistics, statistics)
Why customs declarations for ITGS?
Reflect physical movement of goods across borders
In general, reliable, detailed and readily available
Identification of flows to be excluded from / included in ITGS on the basis of CPs
Limitations

4. Customs declaration, the main source (2)
Simplified declaration – limited dataset
+ supplementary declaration – later full dataset for all exports/imports
Stat. data not simply the declared info, but updated by „amendments or decisions by Customs”, e.g.
declaration accepted with some difference in data (e.g. procuct code)
info on the import preferences granted
cancelled declarations
Customs should send corrections to the initial information
as a rule, only on stat. data, which are still under revision
if updating put a disproportionate buden on NSI  apply stat. threshold!

5. Why are other data sources needed?
In some cases customs records are not enough for full coverage of trade  should be supplemented with info from other sources.
Direct data collection in customs union (e.g. Intrastat in EU)
Simplification applied by Customs in the EU (based on individual trader authorisation)
MS where the goods are presented might be different from MS where customs declaration is submitted  Ms where goods are does not have relevant stat. data (problem for NSI)
Other data sources for some specific goods – when customs declaration is not complete or transaction is not recorded by Customs
ships and aircraft, sea products, military goods
All existing admin. data sources should be analysed and relevant ones used for statistical purposes.

6. Other data sources for trade in specific goods (1)
Military goods
All goods intended for military use, e.g. arms, trucks, cars, aircraft, fuel, any suuplies for armed forces.
Possibility to provide less detailed data, when trade in military goods falls under miltary secrecy, in line with national law.
At least total value of such goods shuld be obtained from responsible administration.
Ships and aircraft
Inclusion in ITGS based on change of economic ownership between residents and non-
residents (incl. financial leasing), whether or not they enter/leave the economic
territory of the involved countries  transactions frequently not recorded by Customs.
Additional data sources
Ships and aircraft register
Enterprise survey

7. Other data sources for trade in specific goods (2)
Sea products (fisc catch and minerals from the seabed)
landed from ships of one country in national port of another country or acquired by ships of one country on the high seas from ships of another country.
Nationality of the vessel
Customs – the flag which the vessel is flying
Statistics – country of the establishment of the economic owner
Additional data sources – comprehensive combination of data sources!
Fishery statistics, landing declarations
Ship register to monitor economic ownership

8. Data control & processing
Flow of information
Institutional arrangements in MSs
Leading admin.
Data collection
Data control & processing
Dissemination
No of MSs
NSI
Customs 20 3 4
Traders’ register
Contact info for efficient correction of data
Regular provision along with trade data
Good co-opertation with Customs essential!
Formal agreement
Formal working group with regular meetings
Participation of statisticians in legislative/procedural developments of Customs, when having an effect on stat’s
Define procedures on correction of data
Regular informal contacts at expert level

9. Thanks for your attention! lidia.basso@ksh.hu